Medieval Peasant vs Industrial Revolution Factory Worker

[Infected Mushroom]

This is very very simple.

You have to choose, between a life as an average peasant in 13th century continental Europe or as a lower/working class factory worker in Victorian London near the middle of the Industrial Revolution.

In both scenarios you are a "commoner" and are quite poor.

Once you have chosen, your memory will be completely wiped and you start your life again in a new family situated in your chosen time period. You will keep your present personality and predispositions but it is possible that you will be swayed/heavily influenced by the spirit and attitudes of the day.

Please discuss which, less than ideal life, you would choose and why.

I choose the life of a peasant. Victorian era working hours would be a complete killer, furthermore, I would grow increasingly cynical and depressed in such an immoral age of capitalism.

At least in the medieval ages, the people believed in honour, loyalty and chivalry even if it wasn't always followed.

In theory there's "social mobility" in the Victorian era for a working class factory worker but not for people like me (only for people who are good at manipulating others, playing games with money, and socialising and so forth). I'd 100% be stuck working on endless shifts of factory work until I'm either dead or disabled and the community would offer no support. At least in the medieval ages, though life was possibly shorter and more disease prone, things were "simpler."

My understanding is that living as a factory worker in London was NOT fun at all.

[Valentine Z]

Industrial Revolution.

Suffice to say that while my view and knowledge are limited, I know enough to not be in a Medieval horror show. Deadly diseases, poorer sanitary system (or the lack thereof), and "medical treatments" that will kill you than cure you.

[Munkchester]

Northumbrian nationalist.

[The Blaatschapen]

If my memory is completely wiped, how will I be able to communicate? I learned English at some point, so that is now gone. Making me quite useless in the Victorian era.

And for the 13th century, it doesn't matter, I do not speak any of it to begin with.

[Infected Mushroom]

If my memory is completely wiped, how will I be able to communicate? I learned English at some point, so that is now gone. Making me quite useless in the Victorian era.

And for the 13th century, it doesn't matter, I do not speak any of it to begin with.

You will grow up again (start a completely new life as a baby, education, if provided, included) assigned to a random family

you would learn to speak from those who raise you

you would retain your personality (to the extent that its influenced by biology) but you would be subject to the socialisation of the time

[Hirota]

Your posts are starting to sound like Harry Hill sketches Mushy old bean.

[The Blaatschapen]

If my memory is completely wiped, how will I be able to communicate? I learned English at some point, so that is now gone. Making me quite useless in the Victorian era.

And for the 13th century, it doesn't matter, I do not speak any of it to begin with.

You will grow up again (start a completely new life as a baby, education, if provided, included) assigned to a random family

you would learn to speak from those who raise you

you would retain your personality (to the extent that its influenced by biology) but you would be subject to the socialisation of the time

I'd die in infancy in the 13th century. Like most. Especially with modern biology, probably losing quite a few resistances to diseases of back then (and also gaining a few).

[Infected Mushroom]

You will grow up again (start a completely new life as a baby, education, if provided, included) assigned to a random family

you would learn to speak from those who raise you

you would retain your personality (to the extent that its influenced by biology) but you would be subject to the socialisation of the time

I'd die in infancy in the 13th century. Like most. Especially with modern biology, probably losing quite a few resistances to diseases of back then (and also gaining a few).

Let's say you didn't. Which would you prefer?

Or maybe... alternatively... let's run with that. You die at childbirth. Is that really so bad though? I mean, "being alive" means you're either on a farm or working in the factories for life. How much would you inherently value your life if you had to deal with a lose-lose?

[The Huskar Social Union]

Probably industrial revolution, both are shit but probably have a better chance at living.

I'd die in infancy in the 13th century. Like most. Especially with modern biology, probably losing quite a few resistances to diseases of back then (and also gaining a few).

Let's say you didn't. Which would you prefer?

Or maybe... alternatively... let's run with that. You die at childbirth. Is that really so bad though? I mean, "being alive" means you're either on a farm or working in the factories for life. How much would you inherently value your life if you had to deal with a lose-lose?

Yes because im fucking dead.

[Infected Mushroom]

Probably industrial revolution, both are shit but probably have a better chance at living.

Let's say you didn't. Which would you prefer?

Or maybe... alternatively... let's run with that. You die at childbirth. Is that really so bad though? I mean, "being alive" means you're either on a farm or working in the factories for life. How much would you inherently value your life if you had to deal with a lose-lose?

Yes because im fucking dead.

but if you lived, it wouldn't be all that necessarily be all that great in this hypothetical

[The Huskar Social Union]

Probably industrial revolution, both are shit but probably have a better chance at living.
Yes because im fucking dead.

but if you lived, it wouldn't be all that necessarily be all that great in this hypothetical

Im still alive. I like living.

[Confederate Ameriwyr Leagues]

Industrial Revolution.

Suffice to say that while my view and knowledge are limited, I know enough to not be in a Medieval horror show. Deadly diseases, poorer sanitary system (or the lack thereof), and "medical treatments" that will kill you than cure you.

Actually, living as a medieval PEASANT spared you from a lot of the disease and poor sanitation. The countryside, due to having less people and population density, was relatively sanitary. It is a myth that medieval peasants were 'dirty' and 'disease-ridden', at least compared to industrial laborers.

Industrial Revolution Factory Workers had the worst of both modernity AND primitiveness. Basically, deadly diseases like cholera were rampant, medicine was still primitive (Most of the medical revolution happened later during the 20th century), and sanitation was still terrible. And, you had to live in large, crowded cities where sanitation issues were. Basically, industrial cities had all of the sanitation problems of medieval cities on steroids. Really, the reason why plagues stopped being a huge thing in Europe was due to Europeans getting used to the plagues genetically.

Even worse, Victorian London had the WORST industrialization process of the Western World. It was crash industrialization with little care given to the working class. Continental Europe's industrialization was a lot slower and wages and conditions were better for the proletarians of those countries.

As for serfdom, serfdom practically disappeared by the early modern period in Western Europe due to the population decline caused by the Black Plague. It was on the decline during the 13th century, so it would be a random chance if you're bonded to a lord's land or not. Also, nothing is mentioned about WHERE in Europe you're a peasant in. If you're in Frisia or Switzerland, you'd practically be a small landholder, albeit a poor subsistence farmer. You'd have a vote in political matters even, though it'd be very small in Frisia. Not only this, but in those republics, you voted not for representatives but rather directly in legislative matters. Of course, these are very select places in Europe, but the people there are 'peasant commoners in Western Europe' and some of them are poor.

Even if you're enserfed, you're more likely going to have autonomy and simply work on the plot of land assigned to you than working in plantation conditions. Serfs would more like renters who are forced to rent land from someone than plantation slaves. Really, the worst part about being a serf is the limited opportunities and having your produce get constantly robbed by your lord.

The funny thing is that upward mobility would WORSEN your sanitation, since the highest positions commoners can aspire to are in cities. Success would send you straight to the cities where the sanitation actually is abysmal. Of course, this is assuming that you were a free farmer

So yes, I'd pick being a peasant for the above reasons. Though, being an industrial worker might be better for having a political career. I think, personally, I would have a much better chance at social mobility during the 19th century. But, I don't think I'd even survive to achieve that. I'm physically weak, and I think the hard working conditions would crush me. Being a peasant, if not working for someone else, would allow me to at least keep a low profile and involve very irregular working-hours. Some strength would still be needed, but it wouldn't be as much as operating industrial equipment.

Basically, the technology and societal mobility of the 19th century is better, but the material conditions of being a proletarian tend to be worse than that of a being a peasant. Basically, if I do go up the social ladder, being in the 19th century is better.

[Caracasus]

Peasent.

There's no age of chivalry IM, we have been over this a few times now. The quality of life for a worker in the industrial revolution tended to be worse in many ways.

[Andsed]

For reasons other have mentioned I would choose to be a peasant.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Actually yeah i change my mind to peasant.

Also IM please drop this honourable live bullshit about the middle ages.

[Greater Westralia]

Peasant, medieval history often suffers from pop-culture exaggeration which depicts it as a constant carousel of disease, war and famine. Industrial workers suffered worse conditions due to overcrowding, overwork and distinct lack of healthcare or workplace benefits. The pay was lousy and your free time was extremely limited.

Farming is still hard, backbreaking work, but farming as a landholder gives you comparatively more freedom than an industrial worker. There's a community to be a part off, Church holidays and suchlike.

[Conserative Morality]

Industrial Revolution. The pop culture conception of Medieval peasantry may be exaggerated in some ways, but the advances in the living standard of the common man should not be ignored.

[Baltenstein]

The chances to become a knight in kickass armor and go questing and saving hot princesses is higher in the Middle Ages, so I choose Medieval Peasant.

[Andsed]

The chances to become a knight in kickass armor and go questing and saving hot princesses is higher in the Middle Ages, so I choose Medieval Peasant.

I would not get your hopes up. Your a peasant so your not going to be become a Knight anytime soon. You would not have the money or training to do so. Also quest were not really a thing.

[Baltenstein]

The chances to become a knight in kickass armor and go questing and saving hot princesses is higher in the Middle Ages, so I choose Medieval Peasant.

I would not get your hopes up. Your a peasant so your not going to be become a Knight anytime soon. You would not have the money or training to do so. Also quest were not really a thing.

Says you, but I bet that I'd find an enchanted sword or some water fairy or something declaring me as the Chosen One just around the corner.

[Neureich am Fischbach]

13th century peasant is a broad category. Some peasants can be rich and in fact richer than their neighbors. I am assuming you mean someone who is free, so no serfs. I recently saw some numbers for 16th century Saxony and most of the rural inhabitants were farmers (meaning they owned land or at least a holding) That suggests that the average peasant in 13th century would probably have a small farm, but actually I have no idea.

An average peasant could also be a farm hand, who works for another peasant or a lord.

Either way it is hard work. I don't really know enough to decide.

[Andsed]

I would not get your hopes up. Your a peasant so your not going to be become a Knight anytime soon. You would not have the money or training to do so. Also quest were not really a thing.

Says you, but I bet that I'd find an enchanted sword or some water fairy or something declaring me as the Chosen One just around the corner.

No you won’t... because I have already been declared the chosen one! Mhahahahaha!

*Rides away on a horse with a princess before getting pulled off said horse and killed by ten real knights for stealing the horse and kidnapping the princess*

[The Huskar Social Union]

I would not get your hopes up. Your a peasant so your not going to be become a Knight anytime soon. You would not have the money or training to do so. Also quest were not really a thing.

Says you, but I bet that I'd find an enchanted sword or some water fairy or something declaring me as the Chosen One just around the corner.

People who engage in vigorous physical activity in exchange for physical credit distributing pointed steel/iron weapons from a body of water is no basis for the establishment of monetary/prestige/sex fuelled long term endeavours and the acquisition of the necessary and ordained methods of travel and equipment for said endeavours.

[The Blaatschapen]

Peasant.

All I need to find is a lake with a lady in it who is distributing swords.

[The Frozen Forest]

I mean, honestly i'd probably go with the Factory Workers. Peasants lives were horrible throughout the Middle Ages. At least as an industrial worker i don't have to worry about my Lord chopping off my head for kicks, or being rounded up in the middle of the night to be sent off to a war i know nothing about nor do i care about, or starving to death because outlaws stole the only family pig. Plus, if i wanted to in the industrial age, i could always just pack up and leave for America (i'm assuming i would start off in the Old World?).

Factory Workers may not have wonderful lives, but at least they are relatively safe in comparison to that of a Peasant.