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Do you think a feudal peasant had a better quality of life than the modern labour aristocratic proletariat? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 6 days ago by ProletarianLandlord@lemmygrad.ml to c/asklemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml

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I have not looked into any sources on what life was like for a feudal peasant. However, I've heard that peasants had more holidays and rest. I also believe the life of a peasant was more communal and satisfactory with religion being a central feature. This, to me, is a stark contrast to the life of the modern proletariat in the Global North who often lives for work, is more and more isolated, and maybe gets only a month off work. Yes, we have higher life expectancy now (quantity) but I cant help but think that peasants had a better quality of life. Please educate me on this topic and provide some sources to look at. Thank you! 🙏

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[–] CriticalResist8@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It depends when in the (European) feudal period. Very early feudal era was basically slavery with extra steps. It's like if we look at capitalism in the 60s and 70s, where you didn't have to have a college degree to make a living wage and could buy a house on one income, and think this applies to all of capitalism. But if we compare capitalism to itself I still prefer 2025 capitalism to 1860 capitalism.

Hickel studied this though and his results was that extreme poverty, ie the inability to fulfill shelter, food or clothing needs, did not meaningfully exist prior to capitalism.

[–] ProletarianLandlord@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh to be a white man born in the 1950s. Can you link me any of Hickels work? Sounds interesting.

[–] CriticalResist8@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 days ago

This is Hickel's paper in question if I'm not mistaken (taken from a ProleWiki reference): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X22002169!