What was the typical peasant household in late Roman Britain? How many people? Did a woman move into her hus?

Question

band's family? Who else would be there? His parents, grandparents, married brothers, unmarried sisters and their children? Or did those people scatter and make new farms? And how much land per household?

Answer 1

Your question doesn't sound much like a high school project to me. Even if it is, I think it's interesting, so I will give it my best shot. The problem is, however, that I don't think there are any good, reliable answers to your questions.

There is an underlying presumption that there was such a thing as a "typical peasant household" in late Roman Britain. But, I have never found any evidence that a "typical peasant household" existed at all in Britain at that time, at least in the more desirable and productive farming lands. The sparse evidence that we have, both written and archaeological, suggest that the best agricultural lands in Britain were owned by a relatively small number of very wealthy landowners, many of them residing in imposing villas, with the work being done by either slaves or serfs tied by law to their lands.

A "peasant" is neither a slave nor a serf, but a free man farming a small plot of land that he owns himself. He would be free to sell that land; to buy other land; to marry whomever he wished; etc. --- in accordance with the conditions presumed by your questions. But there is no written record, nor any archaeological evidence, for such peasant farms and households.

They may have existed, of course, but simply have been considered too insignificant to be worth recording by contemporary writers. Equally, it is likely that their dwellings were small and poorly constructed, and therefore leaving insufficient traces to attract the attention of archaeologists.

So, I'm sad to say that I think it's impossible to give proper answers to your questions. There is absolutely no solid evidence for answers to any of them.

The link below offers a very learned (and long) article on late Roman agriculture, with some - but not exclusive - focus on Roman Britain. You may find it helpful. I hope so. But I doubt it!

Answer 2

So many questions! Are we doing your school history project for you? :)