The Centrality of Peasants in Medieval Society

Peasants constituted approximately 80% of the medieval population, significantly shaping the economic and social landscape of their time. These agricultural laborers primarily resided in rural areas, working to sustain themselves and their families, contrasting sharply with the lives of nobility who occupied castles and attended court. Their labor not only supported their own subsistence but also produced surplus food that fueled the larger economy, enabling urban merchants and funding the construction of castles and cathedrals. Despite their crucial role, the complexities of peasant life, including the burdens they faced, are often overlooked in favor of the more glamorous depictions of knights and nobility.