International Colloquium on Peasant Economy before and during the Early Period of the Industrial Revolution

Abstract

The "International Colloquium on Peasant Economy Before and During the Early Period of the Industrial Revolution," held in September 1973 in Białowieża and Białystok, focused on one of the core problems of economic history: the role of the peasant economy in early industrialization. Organized by the Polish Academy of Sciences as part of the preparations for the VI International Congress of Economic History, the colloquium gathered thirty participants from countries including England, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Yugoslavia, USA, Hungary, and Poland.
The aim of the meeting was to investigate the structural and functional transformations of peasant economies under the influence of industrialization. The researchers analyzed the peasant economy as part of broader economic, social, and political systems, its relationship with consumer and labor markets, and the processes of internal change, including monetization, intensification, and early technological innovations.
The colloquium discussions, based on papers and statistical analyses, highlighted the differences and similarities in peasant economies across Europe. They identified key patterns such as the transition from subsistence to market-oriented farming, the dual role of the peasantry as food producers and labor suppliers for emerging industries, and the varying influence of feudal, communal, and market structures. Special attention was paid to how peasant economic decisions were shaped by external pressures and opportunities.
In conclusion, the colloquium was considered a significant step in shaping a comparative model of peasant transformation in the context of early industrialization. It fostered international academic collaboration and laid a strong foundation for further debates at the 1974 International Congress of Economic History in Copenhagen.