• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    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
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      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
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        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.