peasants' communes (Mir)

Peasants' communes, or "mir," were traditional collective farming communities in rural Russia. They operated as local self-government units where peasants jointly owned land, made communal decisions, and shared resources and labor. The mir regulated land allotments, arranged agricultural tasks, and managed social obligations, fostering cooperation among villagers. This system helped maintain social stability, preserved traditional rural life, and supported the local economy. Under the mir, individual peasants didn't own land outright but worked collectively, influencing Russian agriculture and society until major reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.