Replies

I will get them for you if you remind me... I read them from a chapter reprint of a book a friend at work gave me, but I forgot the name of it. The book actually had a fairly communist slant, but this chapter -- a slam on the industrial revolution -- inadverdantly cast the middle ages as nearly idyllic.

This is close:

Annual hours over eight centuries

Time Type of worker Annual hours

13th century Adult male peasant, U.K. 1620 hours
14th century Casual laborer, U.K. 1440 hours
Middle ages English worker 2309 hours
1400-1600 Farmer-miner, adult male, U.K. 1980 hours
1840 Average worker, U.K. 3105-3588 hours
1850 Average worker, U.S. 3150-3650 hours
1987 Average worker, U.S. 1949 hours
1988 Manufacturing workers, U.K. 1856 hours
2000 Average worker, Germany 1362 hours

(Compiled by Juliet B. Schor from various sources; Germany figure from OECD data)

http://www.answers.com/topic/working-day

I find your conclusions overly simplistic and easily refutable. Study of the human spinal vertebrae and other bones show that life in 1200 AD was every bit as brutal as it was during the Renn. Era. I've actually seen and studied these artifacts myself.

BTW, there are two particual and notable Renn.exceptions to take note of; the spread of bubonic plague due imported by visits to those refined and enlightened muslims, India and China. More importantly the mini-Ice Age which occured in the 1290's prior to the arrival of the plague which made food extremely scarce. Famine was a constant threat particularly in France where farmers were not allowed to grow the new world potato. So, frenchmen died on a regular schedule for generations. Some scientist's claim that we would all be speaking French now if not for the deaths of millions of french due to famine and plague.

I just saw a program on the H channel which discussed the widespread famines, which set-up the people of Europe for the ravages of the plague.