The course aims to give a broad but in-depth overview of peasant societies in later medieval England, while at the same time exploring key topics at depth through the use of primary sources and secondary literature.
Peasants and peasant communities will be explored from circa 1200 to 1500. Themes such as they nature of peasant communities, peasant revolts and gender relationships in peasant societies will be explored using primary and secondary sources. Where appropriate individual topics will be examined from an interdisciplinary perspective, and we will explore peasant culture and perceptions of peasants as reflected in chronicles and poems. In the second semester a more long-term view will be taken and peasant communities will be placed within the context of social and economic changes across the period under consideration.