Medieval Peasant vs Industrial Revolution Factory Worker

[Baltenstein]

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.

BE QUIET

[Infected Mushroom]

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*

No.

IM

IM The Chosen One. I... M

[Novus America]

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.

Well there was plenty of disease, war and famine, but you were most likely better off living in the medieval countryside than in the medieval cities. Medieval cities sucked worse than living on a farm. Of course early 1800 cities were not really better than medieval ones for the lower classes.

Being a 19th century factory worker would suck too though, early industrialization was rough,
but I would take it.

Though it a lot depends on which time. If born in the early 1800s it would be worse than if born later in the 1800s. Because if born late enough you would have a chance of living into the mid 1900s. The last Civil War Veteran died in 1956.

By the late 1800s things were rapidly improving. By the late 1860s London had a sewer system that massively improved things for example. Between 1853 and 1870 Haussmann and Napoleon III rebuilt the center of Paris from a disgusting mess to the basis of what it is today.

(Yes 1850s London was absolutely disgusting) In the later 1800s things were getting much better, so as hard as life would be compared to today, at least there would be a chance of hope.
There was some upward mobility and if you survived you could see things getting better.

As a medieval peasant you never would. Life in the 1900s was much better than life in the 1800s but life in the 1300s was pretty much the same as life in the 1400s or 1200s.

[Greater Westralia]

As a medieval peasant you never would. Life in the 1900s was much better than life in the 1800s but life in the 1300s was pretty much the same as life in the 1400s or 1200s.

That's not completely correct, life for medieval peasants did improve remarkably after the Black Plague, since the smaller number of agricultural labourers were able to bargain for better wages for their work. However, you're right that life would be improving decade after decade as a worker in the industrial revolution.

Nevertheless I stand by my initial choice. Aside from farming being more spiritually fulfilling, there was still some measure of social mobility in medieval times. A successful peasant could become a wealthy yeoman farmer with his own labourers, or become a craftsman (city life wasn't completely as bad as you suggest, albeit during time of plague it got downright nasty). Alternatively, free peasants could become mercenaries, potentially striking it rich like John Hawkwood.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Peasant, hands down.

[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.

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.

Damn, you do learn something new every day. Yeah, I was definitely under the impression and stereotypical belief that peasants in the Medieval are living in medical horror shows.

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation, I really learned a fair bit here! Have a great day, friend! ^^

[Upper Secundus]

Victorian Factory worker. A Badass-Time-Travelling-Roman-Soldier such as myself is biologically, physically, and mentally incapable of being a peasant.

[Page]

Factory worker, because I'll have better chances as a revolutionary. There aren't really any real examples of medieval peasants successfully rising up to overthrow the lords, it was basically impossible. But as a factory worker I can inspire my fellow laborers, we can strikes, lock-outs, and while I don't have great chances at a full on revolution, maybe I get to be one of the leaders of a Paris Commune type situation that lasts in my city for a few months before I'm gunned down by the state's armies. And then I'll be a martyr and 50 years later the people will think of me when the ruling class is up against the wall.

[Genivaria]

Wait I chose wrong and meant to select factory worker.

[Infected Mushroom]

Wait I chose wrong and meant to select factory worker.

Ok I fixed the poll settings.

Can you change it now?

[The Chuck]

Factory worker without a doubt. Sure the pay is shit and the conditions are dangerous but at least we have better medicine if I can afford it.

[Novus America]

As a medieval peasant you never would. Life in the 1900s was much better than life in the 1800s but life in the 1300s was pretty much the same as life in the 1400s or 1200s.

That's not completely correct, life for medieval peasants did improve remarkably after the Black Plague, since the smaller number of agricultural labourers were able to bargain for better wages for their work. However, you're right that life would be improving decade after decade as a worker in the industrial revolution.

Nevertheless I stand by my initial choice. Aside from farming being more spiritually fulfilling, there was still some measure of social mobility in medieval times. A successful peasant could become a wealthy yeoman farmer with his own labourers, or become a craftsman (city life wasn't completely as bad as you suggest, albeit during time of plague it got downright nasty). Alternatively, free peasants could become mercenaries, potentially striking it rich like John Hawkwood.

Conditions only improved some based on so many dying. There pay went up but that was about it.
Nothing compared to the improvements between 1860 and 1960.
Compare the difference between 1200 and 1400 with the difference between 1800 and 2000.

It is not even remotely close.

And medieval cities were nasty. The streets were literally covered in shit.
Waste disposal was very lacking. Hence why they were prone to such bad disease outbreaks in the first place.

[Valrifell]

People who picked the peasant are living on a romanticized version of the Middle Ages. Unlike me who understand the proletariat of the 20th century are ideal and model citizens for a hypothetical socialist state.

[Auvis]

I'd be a peasant, mainly because being a commoner in the Industrial Revolution would be torture, but also because I would have a small opportunity to gain glory and wealth in the Middle Ages since peasants are freemen. All that conflict in Europe would mean even a lowly peasant could become famous from doing mercenary work.

[Novus America]

As a medieval peasant you never would. Life in the 1900s was much better than life in the 1800s but life in the 1300s was pretty much the same as life in the 1400s or 1200s.

That's not completely correct, life for medieval peasants did improve remarkably after the Black Plague, since the smaller number of agricultural labourers were able to bargain for better wages for their work. However, you're right that life would be improving decade after decade as a worker in the industrial revolution.

Nevertheless I stand by my initial choice. Aside from farming being more spiritually fulfilling, there was still some measure of social mobility in medieval times. A successful peasant could become a wealthy yeoman farmer with his own labourers, or become a craftsman (city life wasn't completely as bad as you suggest, albeit during time of plague it got downright nasty). Alternatively, free peasants could become mercenaries, potentially striking it rich like John Hawkwood.

It only improved for the survivors a little bit because so many died. And nothing compared to the improvements between 1860 and 1960.

And medieval cities were literally covered in shit, well at least the streets.
There was a distinct lack of waste disposal and people would dump chamber pots in street. Horses to shit in the streets.
It was gross. Hence the disease.

1870 Paris and London were definitely better than 1370 Paris and London.

It was in the second half of the 1800s we started to change that.

[Zordennox]

Medieval Peasant

Factory workers during the Industrial Revolution were negatively affected by the egalitarian views of the day, which are still in existence to this day. Medieval Peasants were taken care of by their lords and nobles who gave them an adequate standard of living. Factory workers lived in cramped, crowded, and filthy conditions - often getting sick and dying early. Let's not forget that peasants could rise to a noble status if they presented their honor and valor in battle.

[Arcanda]

I was going to say, choose Victorian era and invest in the railway companies, but if I don't keep any of my memories...

I'd still opt for Victorian era. You never know, I might turn out more clever than what I am now (because I won't be fed from birth with all modern luxuries) and perhaps I'll even end up richer in the end. No one said I would be a dumb factory worker, right?
If I were to grow up in more trying times no doubt I'd probably be more clever (that is more apt to weasel my way out of situations, not more knowledgeable), assertive, and enduring to hardship than I am today. Since I'll be growing up all over again, I don't even have to worry about who I am now.

Victorian era all the way and with a little luck I'll end up better than a factory worker.

[UniversalCommons]

Medieval Peasant

There were opportunities back then if you new what to do and had few scruples. Peasants were free men and could do a few things which were interesting including poaching, growing herbs, putting in extra in the gardens, or learning a common skill like carving or beekeeping, or being a bowman or pikeman in the military. Industrial factory workers were watched much more closely and had little opportunity to change their station. You could also try and build contacts become a reeve, bailiff, or hayward if you made the right connections.

I have a natural inclination towards learning and would probably end up adding a few skills like beekeeping, gardening, carving, to the basic peasant skills. I am also more of an ant type and would be less likely to starve.

[Redenn Sjorlene]

Medieval Peasant

Factory workers during the Industrial Revolution were negatively affected by the egalitarian views of the day, which are still in existence to this day. Medieval Peasants were taken care of by their lords and nobles who gave them an adequate standard of living. Factory workers lived in cramped, crowded, and filthy conditions - often getting sick and dying early. Let's not forget that peasants could rise to a noble status if they presented their honor and valor in battle.

Good old times.

[Heloin]

Workin' down the pit. Loadin' coal for the forman. Sounds like it's time to unionise! And if they hate me too much they'll just transport me to Australia.

[Novus America]

Medieval Peasant

Factory workers during the Industrial Revolution were negatively affected by the egalitarian views of the day, which are still in existence to this day. Medieval Peasants were taken care of by their lords and nobles who gave them an adequate standard of living. Factory workers lived in cramped, crowded, and filthy conditions - often getting sick and dying early. Let's not forget that peasants could rise to a noble status if they presented their honor and valor in battle.

This is a completely romantic view.
Life expectancy for a medieval peasant was short.
Food shortages and death from disease was not uncommon.
They als often hit sick and died early.

[The New California Republic]

A worker. I'd achieve class consciousness and organise the proletariat to overthrow the decadent bourgeoisie.

[Valrifell]

A worker. I'd achieve class consciousness and organise the proletariat to overthrow the decadent bourgeoisie.

Yass comrade, slay (the bourgeoisie)

[Baltenstein]

Wait I chose wrong and meant to select factory worker.

Comrade, I think we all know what a real worker would do to fix this wrongness.

[Erythrean Thebes]

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?

I'll do it if you recycle me to my previous life afterwards