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Introduction to this Webbook

A Peasant History leads us in 168 stories through the world’s history, seen through the eyes of peasants. Oppression, resistance, dreams of a small farm of one’s own, the harsh realities of war and migration, deep sorrow over love lost, happiness from a fine harvest – all sorts of situations are addressed. We meet crop farmers, fishermen, folk heroes, farm girls, small children, old women, shepherds and pioneers. The whole many-coloured, diverse peasant world unfolds before our eyes in stories of bygone times, the tumultuous twentieth century, or the most modern times. From Senegal to Australia and Hungary, from Turkey to Japan and Mexico.

Every story refers to a fine novel or movie, so that you can continue reading or watching whenever you like. Next to every story you will find two large pictures, to make it easy to feel yourself in the area where the story takes place.

My special thanks go to Marcia Tiede and Margaret Weidner for their careful correcting of the English stories. And to Jules Pretty for his encouragement.

Happy reading!

Jan Paul Smit

“What a most splendid collection! Jan Paul Smit offers a kaleidoscopic image of peasant life over the centuries, and in various continents. At the same time the webbook is a vital reference work: it gives a useful overview of films, books and short stories that inform about peasant life. For enthusiasts, but also an information source for educators, which they wouldn’t like to miss.” ~ Jan Douwe van der Ploeg, Professor of Agriculture, the Netherlands and China.

“A Peasant History is an impressive and original mosaic, linking peasant stories to movies and novels. It creates deep understanding of peasant life, and the many challenges that they face. Well worth to dive into, and get carried away.” ~ Henk Hobbelink, Coordinator GRAIN.

“A Peasant History is a fine and quite remarkable resource, showing just how patterns of rural life repeat and echo across the ages and over many different countries and agroecosystems. On the one hand, it is painful to see how little we might have learned in a thousand years; on the other it is touching to see humanity shine through so clearly. Highly recommended.” ~ Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment, England.

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1. Egypt – around 2050 BCE

(Photo: Baumfan)

Egypt.

The poor peasant and the magistrate

“It is your duty to defend justice. But what are you doing? You allow injustice, you let it spread. It doesn't matter to you that a poor man is robbed."

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The photos are not illustrations of the story.
They show the landscape where the story takes place.

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2. Nottinghamshire, England – 1195

(Photo: Andrew Hill)

Nottinghamshire.

'The forest is large enough for a secret army'

“Just my awful luck! I had just shot a deer in the middle of the forest, and here came a little band of nobles. Naturally, escorted by a group of soldiers, otherwise they don't dare to come here."

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3. Mali – 13th century

(Photo: Dave Dyet)

Mali.

Father and son

Carefully Nianankoro takes the big calabash bowl with both hands. Slowly, he moves it back and forth, looking into the rippling water. Worriedly, he says, “Mother, Father is not far away.”

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4. Karaburun, West Turkey – about 1400

(Photo: Ylbert Durishti)

Karaburun.

The poet dreams

About 1930 Nâzim Hikmet is imprisoned, because he writes poems which make poor Turks enthusiastic and the government angry. It is already late, and Hikmet is the only one in the room who is still awake.

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5. A village on Java, Indonesia – early sixteenth century (1)

(Photo: CIFOR)

Java.

Decline of the empire

“Why do you pay taxes to the Adipati (ruler) of Tuban? What do you get in return for it?” Challengingly Rama Cluring looks around in the village hall of Awiskrambil.

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6. Tuban, Java, Indonesia – early sixteenth century (2)

(Photo: Adam Howarth)

Java.

Challenging the sovereign

Idayu sits on her knees in the dust. Humbly she bows her head deeply, touching the ground. She sits in front of the Adipati (sovereign) of Tuban on his golden throne.

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7. A small village in Japan – sixteenth century

(Photo: Robert Izumi)

Japan.

Blinded

“Don't do it, Genjurō, think of me, think of Genichi, our little son. Stay with us. What will become of us, when the enemy soldiers come? Who will protect us? Who will help us to escape?”

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8. A Japanese village – 1586

(Photo: David Kosmos Smith)

Japan.

The old samurai

“Oh, how happy the farmers are, how they sing while planting out the rice paddy,” Kambei Shimada muses, sitting on the burial mound of the village. Four of his comrades are buried there.

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9. A forest in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany – about 1630

(Photo: Péter Molnár)

Rhineland-Palatinate.

Simplicissimus

Dear reader, I am of most humble origins. But, as you can see, I still managed to learn to write. I will tell how this happened. As a child, I lived at a small farm in the middle of the forest.

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10. A village in Senegal – around 1700

(Photo: Xavier Damman)

Senegal.

The courage of the Ceddo

“I will not take another step, unfasten my hands immediately. You think you can tie me up like a slave? I am Dior Yacine, princess Dior Yacine.”

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11. Haiti – around 1785 (1)

(Photo: Breezy Baldwin)

Haiti.

The poison

A mysterious poison is spreading across the plain. It began at the farm of Monsieur Lenormand de Mézy. All of a sudden, two beautiful French dairy cows fell on the ground.

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