THE CONDITIONS OF PEASANT FARMING IN THE STAROSTY OF SANOK IN THE 16TH C.

• Authors: Guzowski P.
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The aim of the article is to investigate the conditions of peasant farming in the starosty of Sanok in the 16th c. The region in question was at that time an area of both rural and urban colonization with a population of mixed ethnic background, using various law systems (German, Ruthenian and Wallachian). Peasants occupied themselves mainly with farming and sheep breeding. The research undertaken concerned the size of peasant farms and their duties. The article is based on data from the inventories of the starosty from 1523, 1548 and 1565, and on preserved foundation acts. The average size of a peasant farm was 0.5 lan (traditional Polish measure of land, 17-26 hectares), which was similar to other regions of Poland. Throughout the century the average size of the farm was increasing. The rent was 12-48 grosz from a lan, 28.6 grosz on the average. In addition to the rent there were other financial obligations, of which the most important were 'royal stations' (financing the travelling expenses of the king and the royal court), amounting to 20 grosz per lan. Peasants were also obliged to pay rent in kind, mainly in grain (oats), but also in rams, cocks, eggs, bread and cheese. Rent in kind was usually collected at the feasts of Epiphany, Easter, Assumption and Christmas. The sources also state the serfdom duties. In most villages serfdom labour duty was limited to several days a year, although there were sporadic cases when it was fixed as one, two or three days a week. The situation of peasant farms in the starosty of Sanok in the 16th c. could be described as stability in the period of development. The burden of rents and serfdom was slightly smaller that in other parts of the country. Throughout the 16th century it grew, but this did not necessarily mean a dramatic change in the conditions of farming, as the prices increased much quicker than peasants' obligations.

Keywords

EN

ECONOMICS; PEASANT FARMING (POLAND 16TH C.)

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Kwartalnik Historii Kultury Materialnej
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 11-24
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Guzowski P.

• P. Guzowski, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

06PLAAAA01533383