Galician peasants’ awareness in the first half of the 19th century : an outline

Streszcz. ang. Bibliogr.

The article discusses the issue of peasants’ social and national awareness in Galicia in the fi rst half of the 19th century. An important factor in peasants’ awareness was the feeling of loyalty towards the monarch and state duties. Peasants did not consider themselves a part of a larger community, either a state or national one. They were “imperials” or “locals.” “Imperiality” was expressed by loyalty towards the monarch and belief in his care and protection. “Locality” meant belonging to a local community – a family, a gathering, a parish, etc. Peasants were aware of the economic system they functioned in. They knew the regulations of inventories, the common law and new legal acts. They noticed the signifi cance of a document, especially one that verifi ed fi nancial transactions.