Rags to Riches

[1889]

I’ve been reading about the European economy during the 17th century. I’ve really been impressed with how hopeless peasant life must have been. Hard work, of which there was plenty, counted for nothing. Their future and lives were almost entirely in the hands of their landlords.

Stories of woe and misery are easy to find but for ballance can anyone tell me of a peasant who became wealthy and/or powerful.

It must be a peasant, no landless nobles please. I’d really like a story of success through hard work, not say through military adventure, trickery or crime although those may be interesting too. Finally I’d prefer a story of an eastern European or Mediterranean peasant over an English or new world peasant.

Can anyone help me out?

 

[Illdisposed]

The first name which immediately comes into my head is Mikhailo Lomonosov. Although not an 17th century representative, he is a very prominent example of 'rags to riches.' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Lomonosov

Alexander Menshikov is also in the same league: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Danilovich_Menshikov

Ivan Bolotnikov is certainly an example also, although his means were militant and his life's ended dreadfully:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bolotnikov (unfortunately, Wikipedia provides very little information in his regard, so I'd suggest looking it up elsewhere, maybe JSTOR).

I will think of someone else but for now I hope you would find life stories of these men useful as well as entertaining.

 

[1889]

Its easy to see how feudal institutions oppressed, but I was having difficulty imagining how anyone escaped.

So thanks, those are fine examples. Lomonosov especially is exactly what I was looking for.