Volhynian Peasantry in the Early Modern Times: Without Bias and Stereotypes

Abstract

The author of the article voices the necessity to revise the conclusions of the Ukrainian historiography with regard to the history of the Ukrainian peasantry in the early modern times. This necessity is prompted by historiographical distortions of the Soviet era when research priority was given to such subject matters as socio-economic state and anti-feudal struggle of the masses, including peasantry. However, the methodology of that time, which was based on vulgar sociological principles, led to simplified approaches, mythologizing, and sometimes outright falsifications in the history of peasantry. It should be pointed out that the tradition of similar approaches may still be found nowadays, and thus even in recent research old methodological principles and opinions continue to be dominant.The author reviews outdated historiographical stereotypes regarding the state of the Ukrainian peasantry in the 16th–17th centuries and on the basis of documents proves that the agrarian reform of 1557 did not become widespread in Volhynia. Dvoryshche system remained the dominant form of peasant economy until the mid-17th century. However, even partial implementation of the agrarian reform and the introduction of the new land unit – voloka – did not result in peasants being dispossessed of their land. Voloka was also a fairly large area of land sufficient for a large undivided peasant family to run its economy. On the basis of documents it is demonstrated that hired labour was widely used by both dvoryshche and voloka peasant economies. Given these facts, the author argues that in its typology peasant economy was the one of the farm type.