Suchergebnisse

An edition of 15th-century German-language tax records from the Cheb region, accompanied by extensive historical introduction and appendices in Czech

Abstract
Many scholars have proved statistically that the migration of the Early Modern European peasantry was predominantly local and socially conditioned. This article tries to expand our quantified knowledge of the Late Medieval period using the unique documentary evidence from the Cheb city-state (Czech Republic). Based on a detailed analysis, we show that the migration pattern of the Late Medieval Cheb peasantry was similar to the Early Modern one despite very different demographic, economic and social conditions. The strength of the ties to the land increased with wealth; the better the property often among rural landholdings, gaining a better position. The wealthier the peasants status of the household, the lower the rate of replacement on the landholding. Poorer peasants migrated relatively more to the city, where they were among the wealthier burghers. Even though peasant migration took place over short distances, it brought about fundamental changes for many peasants.

Abstract
Migration is a fundamental but often neglected chapter in the history of European peasant societies. Knowledge of migration in Medieval and Early Modern rural Europe adds significantly to our understanding of phenomena as diverse as serfdom, the land market, social stratification, the diffusion of agricultural practices, and responses to climate change. To advance this knowledge, we need to consult both documentary evidence and archaeological data, and study diverse parts of Europe. This special issue of the Journal of Migration History collects articles devoted to various aspects of mobility among peasants and its multiple meanings. Written by historians and archaeologists, they present a plethora of perspectives, methods, and approaches to the study of migration in the past. This introductory article describes the themes and scope of the articles. We argue for the importance of migration to peasant studies but also for the integration of peasant studies into mainstream migration history.