Historia Civilis – Work [video]

The video explores the historical transformation of work patterns, emphasizing the shift from earlier, more relaxed work cultures to the rigorous and demanding work routines of industrial capitalism.

It begins by noting that contemporary society tends to overwork, which stands in contrast to our historical predecessors. Historically, humans often worked less than we do today, and this divergence from past practices is attributed to our modern work ethic. Anthropologists in the 20th century studied Stone Age societies and found that they typically worked for an average of 4-6 hours per day. Moreover, they preferred a cycle of one fast workday followed by one slow workday.

These researchers also observed that various pre-capitalist and pre-industrial societies used similar time measurement units, typically around 30 minutes per chunk of time. This suggests that, in the absence of clocks and calendars, humans naturally gravitate towards this 30-minute time division.

the video delves into medieval Europe, focusing on agricultural work. During this period, workers had a more leisurely pace to their workdays. They would often gather slowly in the morning, enjoy meals together, and take long breaks, including siestas. The workday was significantly shorter than what is common today, with actual work hours often totaling 4-6 hours.

The analysis reveals that medieval workers had a preference for more leisure time when their basic needs were met, which resonates with the modern desire for more time off instead of higher pay. Workers also had extended holidays during periods such as Easter, Midsummer, and Christmas, which allowed them to enjoy significant time away from work.

However, the video shows how this laid-back work culture gradually changed with the advent of mechanical clocks and artificial lighting during the Industrial Revolution. Employers became obsessed with monitoring and controlling workers' time, leading to longer work hours, even during traditionally slower periods.

the video points out that the capitalist class exploited workers and gradually eliminated customary breaks, leisure, and public holidays to maximize productivity and profits. Workers' lives were transformed, leading to longer work hours, stagnant wages, and a lack of autonomy.

It ultimately calls for a reevaluation of our current work culture, highlighting the need for a return to a more balanced work-life approach where people have more leisure time and autonomy over their schedules. the video argues that the resources and policies exist to facilitate this change but that societal ambition is currently lacking.