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Peasants were members of a social class in agrarian societies that formed the majority of the population during the Middle Ages and early modern periods in Europe. They were primarily engaged in subsistence farming, cultivating small plots of land to grow crops and raise livestock for their own survival. Unlike nobles or clergy, peasants lacked significant political power and often worked as tenants on land owned by the aristocracy or the church. Their lives were governed by feudal obligations, including labor services, rent payments, and military duties.

The term "peasant" is derived from the Latin *pagus*, meaning "rural district," and was used to distinguish rural dwellers from urban populations. Peasants typically lived in rural villages, where they relied on communal resources and shared labor systems to maintain their livelihoods. Their social status was hereditary, meaning their children usually followed the same path as their parents. While their existence was often marked by hardship, including limited access to education and healthcare, they formed the economic backbone of feudal economies by producing food and raw materials.

Peasant life varied across regions and historical periods. In some areas, peasants enjoyed relative autonomy, while in others, they faced harsh exploitation under feudal lords. The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries gradually transformed peasant societies, as mechanization and urbanization reduced the need for rural labor. Many peasants migrated to cities in search of work, leading to the decline of traditional agrarian communities. Today, the term "peasant" is sometimes used more broadly to describe rural laborers in developing countries, though its historical connotations remain tied to feudal Europe.