Preserving Stability in a Changing World: Free and Unfree Labour, Peasant Mobility and Agency on Manorial Estates Between the Loire and the Rhine
Alexis Wilkin
Examining peasant (social and physical) mobility implies paying 
attention to many factors, amongst which the (in)existence of 
a Carolingian labour market is central. In regards, boon 
work prevented mobility, as it tied peasants their holdings, 
checking movement, preserve, in a hereditary manner, 
the future tenure. The master wanted foresee 
quantity collected by services performed dependent 
holdings, that say on 
master’s demesne. Such work could consist collective ploughing, 
meadow mowing, cart work, an almost infinite variety 
jobs whose burden bore upon holders 
tenures. There were, however, alternative options for cultivating masters’ estates. One possibility was waged labour. Its existence 
is minimized Chris Wickham Alice Rio, who argue 
that contraction economic exchanges hindered large-scale 
recourse specialized rural operations, owing risk involved lack commercial demand resulting 
products.1 Slave another possibility, its extent 
depending directly quantity masters 
through mandatory dutie
The Journal of European economic history