Places? At risk of sounding glib, your local library. It’s such a wide and broad topic you can read up on pretty much any country or regions history and get a picture of how it developed.
Now for the specific topic of economic and labor systems? Honestly I think I would venture to say start with critiques of F.A. Hayek since what I was referring to was the development of the centrally planned nation state.
Hayek’s influential work is definitely geared towards a Cold War era audience which is why I suggest critiques. Disentangling central planning from political ideology can be a valuable tool.
So in that regard just be aware that serfdom is a really broad category that embodies the labor system that existed under fuedal societies. For example, one of the longest lasting systems of serfdom existed in the Russian Empire until the 1860s. The serfs of England revolted in the Elizabethan era and a system of tenant rent was implemented. So there are centuries long gaps in what serfdom was like depending on where you’re looking. Material conditions for the 14th century peasant and the 19th century vary widely, but do have common structure and function.
Tolstoy and Dostoevsky wrote extensive literature of Russian serfdom, and worth a read. Although, well, its Tolstoy ans Dostoevsky. I have barely read either, for context.
Don’t suppose you know any places that are good to go read up on this?
Places? At risk of sounding glib, your local library. It’s such a wide and broad topic you can read up on pretty much any country or regions history and get a picture of how it developed.
Now for the specific topic of economic and labor systems? Honestly I think I would venture to say start with critiques of F.A. Hayek since what I was referring to was the development of the centrally planned nation state.
Hayek’s influential work is definitely geared towards a Cold War era audience which is why I suggest critiques. Disentangling central planning from political ideology can be a valuable tool.
I suppose by places I meant like websites and/or resources (my word choice had room for improvement upon reflection).
And specifically looking for things regarding “what was serfdom really like”.
So in that regard just be aware that serfdom is a really broad category that embodies the labor system that existed under fuedal societies. For example, one of the longest lasting systems of serfdom existed in the Russian Empire until the 1860s. The serfs of England revolted in the Elizabethan era and a system of tenant rent was implemented. So there are centuries long gaps in what serfdom was like depending on where you’re looking. Material conditions for the 14th century peasant and the 19th century vary widely, but do have common structure and function.
Tolstoy and Dostoevsky wrote extensive literature of Russian serfdom, and worth a read. Although, well, its Tolstoy ans Dostoevsky. I have barely read either, for context.