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Poland Social Life and Customs: Difference between revisions
Poland Social Life and Customs (view source)
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The peasants were the largest class in Poland. Their status were from the wealthiest , who could afford to hire laborers to work for them, to paupers. The peasants were obligated to work for their lords, as this was how they paid their rent. At first it was once a week, but the lords increased it over time and the amount of work depended on the peasant’s status. The wealthiest peasants were required to do more work, but could afford to have others do it for them. Because the nobles controlled Parliament (Sejm) they could make any changes in the law that they wanted and increased their control to the point that they reduced the peasant’s status as the lord’s property and could sell serfs. The serfs needed the lord’s permission to marry, move, or choose a trade. | The peasants were the largest class in Poland. Their status were from the wealthiest , who could afford to hire laborers to work for them, to paupers. The peasants were obligated to work for their lords, as this was how they paid their rent. At first it was once a week, but the lords increased it over time and the amount of work depended on the peasant’s status. The wealthiest peasants were required to do more work, but could afford to have others do it for them. Because the nobles controlled Parliament (Sejm) they could make any changes in the law that they wanted and increased their control to the point that they reduced the peasant’s status as the lord’s property and could sell serfs. The serfs needed the lord’s permission to marry, move, or choose a trade. | ||
There was also a social order among the peasants: <br> A '''Kmiec''' was a farmer who worked enough land to support his family and owned two or more cows, horses, sheep oxen, goats, and pigs. He also owned several buildings on the farm.<br> A '''Potrolik''' worked a half-sized farm. <br>A '''Zagrodnik''' owned a farmhouse, out buildings, animals and a vegetable garden. Many peasants had no crop land. <br>A '''Chalupnik''' lived in a small cottage. <br>A Komornik was a tenant farmer, or day laborer. | There was also a social order among the peasants: <br> A '''Kmiec''' was a farmer who worked enough land to support his family and owned two or more cows, horses, sheep oxen, goats, and pigs. He also owned several buildings on the farm.<br> A '''Potrolik''' worked a half-sized farm. <br>A '''Zagrodnik''' owned a farmhouse, out buildings, animals and a vegetable garden. Many peasants had no crop land. <br>A '''Chalupnik''' lived in a small cottage. <br>A '''Komornik''' was a tenant farmer, or day laborer. | ||
In the nineteenth century, church records recorded peasants with land as “Agricola”. The Napoleonic Code abolished serfdom in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (1803-1818) and ended in most of Prussia Poland in 1821 or 1823. Serfs in Austria Poland were emancipated in 1848, but their farms were so small they couldn’t make a living. Czar Alexander II abolished serfdom in all Russian lands in 1861. After the 1863 uprising, he gave the land to the tenants who farmed it. Serfs could be freed by their owners, or just run away. When the peasants gained their freedom in the nineteenth century, they became more aware of their Polish national culture, and folk culture also gained popularity in the rural areas. Peasants were more prosperous working the farmland in the German occupied areas than the Austrian occupied areas of Poland. Many Poles are still living in the 200 year old cottages. Roofs have been re-thatched and sod has been used on country roofs. | In the nineteenth century, church records recorded peasants with land as “Agricola”. The Napoleonic Code abolished serfdom in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (1803-1818) and ended in most of Prussia Poland in 1821 or 1823. Serfs in Austria Poland were emancipated in 1848, but their farms were so small they couldn’t make a living. Czar Alexander II abolished serfdom in all Russian lands in 1861. After the 1863 uprising, he gave the land to the tenants who farmed it. Serfs could be freed by their owners, or just run away. When the peasants gained their freedom in the nineteenth century, they became more aware of their Polish national culture, and folk culture also gained popularity in the rural areas. Peasants were more prosperous working the farmland in the German occupied areas than the Austrian occupied areas of Poland. Many Poles are still living in the 200 year old cottages. Roofs have been re-thatched and sod has been used on country roofs. | ||
==== Burghers ==== | ==== Burghers ==== | ||