The reforms carried out in Russia by Peter I, condemning the attitude of Catherine II to the cruelties of serfdom, did not, in fact, change the standard of living and the position of the peasantry in the 18th century. 90% of the country's population experienced an increase in feudal oppression, increased poverty, and complete lack of rights. Peasant life, subject to the order of work on the ground, was rational, poor, preserved the roots and traditions of their ancestors.
What did the farmer grow?
Agricultural work in the field was carried out from April to October. Ways of tillage, methods of growing crops, a set of tools were passed down from father to son and grandson. In different regions of the country there were differences associated with climatic and historical conditions. Cultivated soils were of great importance. But the plow, an antique of peasant life, albeit with constructive differences, remained itself throughout the country.
Main crops grown by Russianspeasants were grain. Rye, wheat, oats, millet, buckwheat grew in all regions. Peas, vetch, clover were planted for fattening livestock, hemp, flax for technical and economic needs. These are native Russian cultures.
Of the "foreign" and accustomed to Russian agriculture should be noted cabbage, lentils, and in the XVIII century - corn, potatoes, sunflower and tobacco. Although these "delicacies" were not grown for the peasant table.
Home Animal Husbandry
The level of peasant life directly depended on the amount of cultivated land and the availability of livestock. First of all, cows. If there are cattle in the yard, the family is no longer in poverty, it can afford more satisfying food, and on holidays purchased clothes, and richer household utensils. In the farms of the "middle peasants" there could be 1-2 horses.
Small animals: pigs, sheep, goats - it was easier to keep. And it was difficult to survive without birds: chickens, ducks, geese. Where conditions allowed, local residents added mushrooms and berries to their poor diet. Fishing and hunting were of no small importance. These crafts were especially widespread in Siberia and the North.
Peasant hut
At first, this was the name of the residential heated part, but by the 18th century it was already a complex of courtyard buildings. The quality and quality factor of the buildings depended on the income of the family, on the level of peasant life, and the composition of outbuildings was approximately the same: barns, rigs, sheds, baths, barns, poultry houses, cellars, and so on. The concept of "yard" included a garden,garden, land plot.
In Russia, the houses were chopped, that is, the main building tool was an ax. Moss served as a heater, which was laid between the crowns, later - tow. The roofs were covered with straw, which, with a lack of fodder, was fed to cattle by the spring. The entrance to the heated part was through the vestibule, which served to keep warm, store household utensils, and in summer - as an additional living space.
The furniture in the hut was "built-in", that is, motionless. Along all the unoccupied walls, wide benches were placed, which became beds for the night. Shelves were hung above the benches, on which all sorts of things were stored.
The meaning of the stove in the peasant life of the early 18th century
To fold the stove, which was a very important element of the peasant hut, they invited a good craftsman, because this is not an easy task. Mother oven fed, warmed, steamed, healed, put to bed. The stoves were heated in a black way, that is, there was no chimney, and acrid smoke from the chimney spread under the ceiling. It was difficult to breathe, my eyes watered, the ceiling and walls were smoky, but it kept warm longer, saving firewood.
The stoves were placed large, almost a quarter of the hut. The hostess got up early to heat it in the morning. It was heated for a long time, but for a long time it kept warm, you can cook food, bake bread, and dry clothes. The oven had to be heated all year round, even periodically in the summer, in order to bake bread for a week and dry mushrooms and berries. The weakest members of the family usually slept on the stove: children and the elderly. Beds were built in Russian huts,the flooring from the stove to the opposite wall is also a sleeping place.
From the location of the stove in the house, the layout of the room “danced”. They put it to the left of the front door. The mouth of the oven looked into a corner adapted for cooking. This is the owner's place. There were items of peasant life that women used daily: hand millstones, mortars, pots, bowls, spoons, sieves, ladles. The corner was considered "dirty", so it was covered from prying eyes with a cotton curtain. From here there was a descent into the underground for groceries. A washstand hung by the stove. The hut was lit with torches.
The rest of the room, called the finishing room, had a red corner. It was in a corner, diagonally across from the stove. There has always been an iconostasis with a lamp. The most dear guests were invited here, and on weekdays, the owner sat at the head of the table here, who gave permission to start eating after prayer.
Other buildings in the yard
Often, a courtyard building was made on two floors: cattle lived below, and a hayloft was upstairs. Reasonable owners attached it with one wall to the house, so that the cattle would be warmer and the hostess would not have to run out into the cold. Tools, sledges, carts were stored in a separate shed.
Peasant life of the 18th century could not do without a bath. Even the poorest households had it. The device of the bath has survived to this day, practically unchanged, only it was then heated in black.
The grain barn was the most treasured. They put it away from the hut, made sure that it did not catch fire, onthe door was hung with a lock.
What did the peasants wear?
Men wore caftans made of thick cloth, undershirts for warmth. And in the summer in all cases of life - chintz shirts and canvas pants. Everyone had bast shoes on their feet, but on holidays, we althy peasants wore boots.
Women have always been more interested in their clothes. They wore canvas, chintz, woolen skirts, sundresses, sweaters - everything that they wear now. Only then clothes were sewn most often from homespun fabrics, but they were decorated with embroidery, beads, multi-colored laces and belts.
Peasant life consisted not only of harsh everyday life. In Russian villages, they always loved holidays and knew how to walk merrily. Riding from the mountains, on horseback, swings and carousels are traditional fun. Funny songs, dances, polyphonic singing - this is also the life of the 18th century.
