The Power of Peasants
Economics & Politics of Farming in Medieval Germany
Advances in agricultural production by farmers played the decisive role in the great advances in civilization in Europe. Looking at history from the perspective of the farmers and other working people allows us to understand why history took the course it did and better prepare us for battles that lie ahead.
Also available in Europe on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de
“In his expansive study, Robert Dees advances a bold thesis: the economic and social development of Europe was shaped above all by the peasants and their struggle for freedom.… The result of this admirable energy and intellectual audacity is a book that declares the oppressed to be the prime movers of history — not unappealing.”
Thomas Ertl, VSWG 113, 122-123 (2026) · Translated from German
“In addition to being reader-friendly in style and language, this comprehensive and detailed study’s most significant contribution is its demonstration of peasant agency across a broader temporal and geographical scope…. The Power of Peasants … encourages a reconsideration of the transformative impact of peasants in European social and economic history, as well as the significance of conflicts among different actors. The book transcends the economic history of rural Southern Germany by offering a grand narrative uncommon in the existing literature. It is a work that merits broader attention and scholarly discussion.”
Ozancan Bozkurt, Economic History Association / EH.net (2026)
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