Though led by a military general, the An Lushan Rebellion in Tang China involved large peasant forces disillusioned by corruption and famine. The Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) One of the deadliest conflicts in history, the Taiping Rebellion in Qing dynasty China was led by peasants who sought radical social and religious reforms, challenging im

The English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 is among the best-documented uprisings. Sparked by new poll taxes and worsening economic conditions following the Black Death, peasants led by Wat Tyler and preacher John Ball marched on London, demanding an end to serfdom and oppressive taxes. King Richard II initially promised reforms but later crushed the r

While peasant revolts are often associated with the medieval and early modern periods, instances occurred in antiquity as well. The Egyptian Peasant Revolts Ancient Egypt saw peasant revolts especially during times of weak central authority. For example, during the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181–2055 BCE), local officials abused peasants, l

Peasant revolts have been a recurring and significant phenomenon throughout world history. These uprisings represent the collective resistance of rural peasants—typically agricultural laborers and smallholders—against social, economic, and political injustices imposed by ruling elites. The causes of peasant revolts are multifaceted, including e