• LwL@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    The idea that medieval peasants somehow had more free time than the average modern american still is absolute bullshit as far as I’m aware. Unless “necessary preparations for survival” count as free time just because it’s not contracted work (it doesn’t that’s not what free time means).

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      The idea that medieval peasants somehow had more free time than the average modern american still is absolute bullshit

      Paleontologists will tell you otherwise. One reason you had all those giant cathedrals going up in the Medieval Era stemmed from the enormous excess labor just wasting around in between harvest seasons.

      Agricultural surplus creates free time. It’s the whole reason why people opt for farming over hunter gathering.

      • IMNOTCRAZYINSTITUTION@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        your highness, the peasants are bored out of their minds

        oh yeah? put em to work building some crazy shit before they start killing each other for a thrill

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          This but unironically. I’ve got a coworker who took vacation days to help build a temple up in Pennsylvania. He was incredibly proud of his contribution and happy to participate.