This detailed study of early-modern agrarian society in the Somerset Levels examines the small landholders in a group of sixteen contiguous parishes in the Brent Marsh area. These were farmers with lifehold tenures and a mixed agricultural production whose activities and outlook are shown to be very different from that of small "peasant" farmers.
A detailed look at early-modern agrarian life in the Somerset Levels. Patricia Croot's study examines the world of small landholders in Brent Marsh, challenging traditional views of their economic role.
Croot explores land tenure, profit, and politics in the early-modern Somerset Levels, revealing a society far from the stereotypical "peasant" model. She argues that these small farmers were commercially oriented and eager to innovate, valuing their political and religious independence alongside economic agency.
Discover the complexities of landholding, agricultural practices, and social structures in this unique region. This insightful work is perfect for historians, researchers, and anyone interested in the economic and social history of early modern England.
