D- they worked hard and had poor diets, so they were vulnerable to disease.
"The Life of a Peasant
For most peasants, life was harsh. Men, women, and children worked long hours, from sunup to sundown. During planting season, a man might guide an ox-drawn plow through the fields while his wife walked alongside, urging the ox on with a pointed stick. Children helped in the fields, planting seeds, weeding, and taking care of pigs or sheep.If they lived near a river, peasants might add fish to their diet. At night, the family and their livestock—cows, chickens, pigs, or sheep—slept together in their hut.
Seasons and Celebrations
Like farmers everywhere, peasants in Europe plowed in spring and autumn. In summer, they harvested and hayed. At other times, they weeded and repaired. Hunger was common, especially in late winter when the harvest was exhausted. Disease took a heavy toll, and few peasants lived beyond the age of 35.
Still, peasants found occasions to celebrate, such as marriages and births. Welcome breaks came on holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. At these times, people might butcher an animal for a feast. There would also be dancing and rough sports, from wrestling to ball games.
The peasant family ate a simple diet of black bread with vegetables such as cabbage, turnips, or onions. They seldom had meat—that was reserved for the lord. Peasants who poached, or illegally killed wild game on their lord's manor, risked harsh punishment."--This is from my World History textbook.
