Serfdom is one of the most shameful and terrible pages in the history of Russia. It was officially canceled in 1861. Wikipedia says that it was a peculiar form of relations between peasants and landowners, but in fact in Russia this practice was much more harsh.
Let's consider some unknown facts about serfdom and find out why slaves were called “souls” in Russia.
In Europe and Russia
It is noteworthy that serfdom was widespread in Europe in the 7th-15th centuries. During this period, most of the inhabitants of Russia were free. The enslavement of the peasants began in the 16th century. For 250 years people suffered from the tyranny of the nobles, who treated them worse than the bedside table.
Of course, in those days everything was not as bad as some history textbooks say. The peasants had the opportunity to take a break from service thanks to the huge number of holidays. And they were completely unfairly considered the poorest in Europe, because, as Yuri Krizhanich wrote, “in Russia people lived much more conveniently and better than in the richest countries of Europe”.
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Petersburg and Siberia
There is an opinion that all peasants in Russia were serfs. In fact, this is not the case. The "trading peasants" were free and developed their "business", giving part of the money to the state treasury. And in Siberia and Pomorie there was no such thing as a "slave" at all. Affected by the harsh climate and remoteness from the capital.
But in refined Petersburg, things were different. Human trafficking was in full swing. Enterprising nobles, many of whom were women, sold trained people for huge sums of money. For example, Princess Dolgorukova selected girls 10-12 years old who lived on the territories of her estates. Selected, ostensibly, for training as governesses. The girls were really taught high-society manners, but a few years later, an enterprising businesswoman sold some into slavery, and from others she made mistresses of wealthy nobles. Not only the princess was engaged in this craft. Many aristocrats trained peasants in military affairs or secular subtleties with the aim of profitable resale. The "trained" serf cost three times as much.
Why were the peasants called souls?
In both state and household records, peasants were called "souls." Not a single document, written before 1861, indicated that a certain number of people belonged to the landowner. Why?
Because slaves were not considered human. The landowners saw in them nothing more than household utensils. However, since the "object" was animate, they called it "soul". In antiquity, for example, slaves were simply called "bodies." In the state documents of Ancient Greece, one could find a mention that "yesterday a man's body named Demetrius was sold to a certain merchant."
Serfs were really treated badly. They were sold, lost at cards, exchanged for thoroughbred horses or puppies.
Even at the dawn of the formation of society, forced people were not considered. At first they were called bodies, a little later - souls. However, the fact of slavery did not change at all from this. Some landowners also treated the peasants in Russia badly. I immediately remember Daria Saltykova, who tortured about a hundred peasants before incurring a well-deserved punishment. Of course, the "souls" had the right to complain about the gentlemen, but it rarely came to court.
Yana Yakovenko