Social stratification at the peasant farmstead in the 20th century in middle Bohemia.

Abstract

Three agricultural village homesteads (farmsteads) have been used to describe social development in the course of the 20th century. Distribution of the work, including stratification of prestige and power, is described in detail for the social group living at the farmstead before the World War I and by its end. We used this first period (1901-1918) at the beginning of the 20th century as a model for the social relations outlasting long from the Middle Ages. In the period from the establishment of the First Republic till the end of the World War II (1918-1945) we can witness the replacement of anterior members of the working team (ploughman and senior maid). Due to the lack of farm-hands they are replaced by immigrants from Slovakia. Since 1945 till 1948 the larger family and German prisoners are engaged in the distribution of the work at the farm. In this period of social changes the farmsteads are gradually abolished, which brings about also decomposition of the social group, which was earning its living from the farm. In the development period between 1948 and 1990 we can see the collapse and destruction of the social groups at smaller agricultural farmsteads including larger estates and their replacement by social organisation of agricultural co-operative farms. In the development period lasting from 1990 till the end of the 20th century the agricultural system of smaller farmsteads was partially restored. Thanks to the introduction of new agricultural machines the family alone is able to cultivate the arable land belonging to the farmstead. Specialised companies performing partial works are employed for occasional works. At the majority of farmsteads the traditional farming has not been restored any more.