Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Preface vii
3. Table of Contents ix
4. List of Illustrations xiii
5. Introduction 1
6. Part One. The Traditional Order
7. 1 The Seigniors 11
8. 2 The Peasants 29
9. 3 The Obligations of the Peasantry 50
10. 4 The Privileges of the Seigniors 80
11. 5 Peasants, Large, Middling and Small 95
12. 6 The Retardation of Agriculture: Techniques and Implements 116
13. 7 The Retardation of Agriculture: Crops and Livestock 138
14. 8 The Rural Economy 155
15. 9 The Condition of the Peasantry 178
16. Part Two: Transition
17. 10 Absolute Monarchy and the Nobility 197
18. 11 First Attempts at Reform 216
19. 12 New Directions in Agriculture 241
20. 13 The Improvers 282
21. 14 The Old Order Attacked and Defended 305
22. 15 Peasant Unrest 332
23. Part Three: Emancipation
24. 16 Background of the Emancipation 355
25. 17 The Reforms 377
26. 18 Pluses and Minuses 401
27. 19 From Order to Class 418
28. List of Works Cited 443
29. Index 489