The Peasant War in Germany
Encyclopedia
The Peasant War in Germany by Friedrich Engels
, 1850, is an account of 16th century uprisings.
This book was written by Friedrich Engels
in London
, during the summer of 1850, following the revolutionary uprisings of 1848-1849. The book draws a parallel between the uprisings of 1848-1849 and the Peasants' War
of 1525. In the book, Engels noted that an important part of the economic setting for the Peasant War had been established by the Hanseatic League of northern Europe and especially northern Germany.
The Hanseatic League was a commercial relationship that developed ebetween various cities along the northern coast of Europe in the Middle Ages. The first use of the word "Hansa" dates from a document dated 1267 A.D. Although not a government or a nation, the League pursed its financial goals in nation-like means. The League developed a navy of its own to deal with the pirates that were operating just off the coast of northern Europe. These pirates were disrupting the trade between the League and its trading partners. The League conducted a war against Kingdom of Denmark from 1361 through 1370 and won. Defeating the Danes gave the Hanseatic League a monopoly on the sea trading in the Baltic Sea and along the whole coast of Europe.
The new massive amounts of trade that was now being handled by the Hanseatic League, changed the economic conditions in the northern Germany. Prior to the Hanseatic monopoly on trade, northern Germany had been noted only for the production of coarse woolen fabrics produced under a strict feudal system. However, the trade that now flowed through northern Germany because of the Hanseatic League's monopoly on trade brought refined methods of production to northern Germany. More refined woolen and linen fabrics and even silk were now being produced. Also improvements in the fields of wood-etching, wood carving, armor-making, engraving of metals and in wood turning were also evident after the establishment of the Hanseatic League monopoly. Additionally, manufacture of these new and improved products tended to be carried on under the guild system of manufacture rather than under the old feudal system. The change to this new system of manufacture had an denigrating effect on the whole feudal structure of northern Germany. This meant that a "renaissance" arrived in northern Germany much earlier than it arrived in the rest of Europe.
Engels had read and had publicly praised Wilhelm Zimmermann
's book called,The History of the Great Peasant War written in 1841-1843. Engels stated that the Zimmermann's book was "the best compilation of of factual data" regarding the Peasant War of 1525. Indeed, Engels admitted that he had borrowed heavily from Zimmermann's book for his own book. Specifically, Engels said that most of the material relating to the peasant revolts and to Thomas Münzter had been taken from the historian Zimmermann's book. The Peasant War in Germany originally appeared in the fifth and sixth issues of the Neue Rheinische Zeitung
-Revue, a political economic review edited by Karl Marx
in Hamburg
, and was later reissued in book forms. In this book, drawing upon the notion of historical materialism
, Engels downplays the importance of political and religious causes for the war, traditionally cited, focusing instead on materialistic, economic factors.
In his book, Engels details the complex class structure of Germany in the era of the Peasant Wars, and also about the ambiguous role of the knights. However, Engels did make one confused conclusion about the production in northern Germany. Engels maintained that the invention of gunpowder occurred in northern Germany after the Hanseatic monopoly of trade. As pointed out by the editors in a footnote at the bottom of page 400 of Volume 10 of the Collected works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, it is now beyond doubt that "gunpowder came to the Arabs through India from China, that they (the Arabs) brought it (gunpowder) through Spain to Europe along with firearms."
Additionally, Engels views the peasant war from the point of view of class struggle and Engels viewed Capitalism
and Protestantism
as being associated.
Engels' remarks on the peasant-plebeian leader Thomas Müntzer are interesting, though controversial. They became an issue during debates about how to develop socialism in the Soviet Union
. Engels took the view that Müntzer had ideas ahead of his time and was therefore doomed to defeat in the immediate conflict.
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
, 1850, is an account of 16th century uprisings.
This book was written by Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, during the summer of 1850, following the revolutionary uprisings of 1848-1849. The book draws a parallel between the uprisings of 1848-1849 and the Peasants' War
Peasants' War
The Peasants' War was a popular revolt that took place in Europe during 1524–1525...
of 1525. In the book, Engels noted that an important part of the economic setting for the Peasant War had been established by the Hanseatic League of northern Europe and especially northern Germany.
The Hanseatic League was a commercial relationship that developed ebetween various cities along the northern coast of Europe in the Middle Ages. The first use of the word "Hansa" dates from a document dated 1267 A.D. Although not a government or a nation, the League pursed its financial goals in nation-like means. The League developed a navy of its own to deal with the pirates that were operating just off the coast of northern Europe. These pirates were disrupting the trade between the League and its trading partners. The League conducted a war against Kingdom of Denmark from 1361 through 1370 and won. Defeating the Danes gave the Hanseatic League a monopoly on the sea trading in the Baltic Sea and along the whole coast of Europe.
The new massive amounts of trade that was now being handled by the Hanseatic League, changed the economic conditions in the northern Germany. Prior to the Hanseatic monopoly on trade, northern Germany had been noted only for the production of coarse woolen fabrics produced under a strict feudal system. However, the trade that now flowed through northern Germany because of the Hanseatic League's monopoly on trade brought refined methods of production to northern Germany. More refined woolen and linen fabrics and even silk were now being produced. Also improvements in the fields of wood-etching, wood carving, armor-making, engraving of metals and in wood turning were also evident after the establishment of the Hanseatic League monopoly. Additionally, manufacture of these new and improved products tended to be carried on under the guild system of manufacture rather than under the old feudal system. The change to this new system of manufacture had an denigrating effect on the whole feudal structure of northern Germany. This meant that a "renaissance" arrived in northern Germany much earlier than it arrived in the rest of Europe.
Engels had read and had publicly praised Wilhelm Zimmermann
Wilhelm Zimmermann
Wilhelm Zimmermann was born in Germany in 1807. He became a historian and a member of the Heidelberg school of historians. From 1847 to 1850, Zimmermann taught history at the Oberrealscule in Stuttgart, Germany. He was a democrat in philosophy and belief. Accordingly, he took part in the...
's book called,The History of the Great Peasant War written in 1841-1843. Engels stated that the Zimmermann's book was "the best compilation of of factual data" regarding the Peasant War of 1525. Indeed, Engels admitted that he had borrowed heavily from Zimmermann's book for his own book. Specifically, Engels said that most of the material relating to the peasant revolts and to Thomas Münzter had been taken from the historian Zimmermann's book. The Peasant War in Germany originally appeared in the fifth and sixth issues of the Neue Rheinische Zeitung
Neue Rheinische Zeitung
The Neue Rheinische Zeitung - Organ der Demokratie was a German daily newspaper, published by Karl Marx in Cologne between June 1, 1848 and May 19, 1849. Its name refers to a paper earlier edited by Marx, the Rheinische Zeitung...
-Revue, a political economic review edited by Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and was later reissued in book forms. In this book, drawing upon the notion of historical materialism
Historical materialism
Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history, first articulated by Karl Marx as "the materialist conception of history". Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans...
, Engels downplays the importance of political and religious causes for the war, traditionally cited, focusing instead on materialistic, economic factors.
In his book, Engels details the complex class structure of Germany in the era of the Peasant Wars, and also about the ambiguous role of the knights. However, Engels did make one confused conclusion about the production in northern Germany. Engels maintained that the invention of gunpowder occurred in northern Germany after the Hanseatic monopoly of trade. As pointed out by the editors in a footnote at the bottom of page 400 of Volume 10 of the Collected works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, it is now beyond doubt that "gunpowder came to the Arabs through India from China, that they (the Arabs) brought it (gunpowder) through Spain to Europe along with firearms."
Additionally, Engels views the peasant war from the point of view of class struggle and Engels viewed Capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
as being associated.
Engels' remarks on the peasant-plebeian leader Thomas Müntzer are interesting, though controversial. They became an issue during debates about how to develop socialism in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Engels took the view that Müntzer had ideas ahead of his time and was therefore doomed to defeat in the immediate conflict.