The+Problems+of+the+French+Peasants

Question: What problems did the peasants of France in the 1700s have to undergo?

During the 18th century in France, extremely poor peasants made up nearly 85 percent of the whole population of France by then. There are two kinds of peasants in France: Serfs and Free Peasants. In France, nearly half of the free peasants owned little or even no land in the 1790s. As the century progressed and new agricultural methods developed, small peasant proprietors were often unable to compete in efficiency with large estates.

Free peasants usually owed tithes, which was usually one-third of their crops. Although tithes were intended for parish priests, in France only a tenth of the priests took tithes. In addition, peasants could still owe a variety of dues and fees. Local aristocrats took away hunting rights, dues, fees, and tithes from peasants although they were all essential for peasants.

By the eighteenth century, the landlord of France also kept a legal power to make judgements, letting him control management of justice. Landowners were given the power to move their serfs around to other estates.

The daily meal system of the 1700s peasants did not change much since the Medieval times. Black bread, as always, was rather nourishing and high in vital minerals. It was an ideal daily meal for peasants. Peasants usually drank water, wine, beer and soups. Potatoes and American corns were added into their menu around the time. However, when harvests failed, famishing was common in the life of a peasant; leaving them even more vulnerable against some severe epidemics.





S., Anderson M. "The Peasants." //18th Century Society//. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

Delors, Catherine. "Manchester City Galleries - Search the Collection." //Manchester City Galleries - Home//. Catherine Delors, 13 June 2005. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <[|__http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/search-the-collection/display.php?EMUSESSID=69a3e6b4f6b5642592393142f1b868a9__]>.

Follet, Ken. "Book Club Party Ideas for Fall of Giants by Ken Follett | ButteryBooks.com." //Buttery Books - Book Club Party Ideas and Recipes//. Ken Follet, 23 Dec. 2006. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. .

Your second image is NOT of "black bread". That's a hat! 9.8/10