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Up to the middle of the 19th century the households of Estonian
peasants were prevalently run to the basis of a barter
system, i.e. as far as possible all the requisites of life were
made by the families themselves. Nevertheless, there were a few things
that had to be obtained by either purchase or exchange. Moreover, it was
necessary to sell that part of a farm's production which was not consumed
by the family itself.
The main articles purchased were salt, salted fish and objects made of metal. Peasants also bought some accessories of clothing, such as men's hats and caps, different bands and ribbons, sewing-thread, and to a lesser extent, some finer foreign-made fabrics. From the 17th century onwards, tobacco became a wide-spread object of purchase. The quantities and choice of the goods on sale increased essentially during the second half of the 19th century. |
Besides corn, the most important product peasants could sell and barter, they also marketed butter, hemp, cow-hides, honey, wax, hop and game killed by hunters.
The chief commercial transaction practised was barter: peasants took their products to merchants in towns and in exchange received the goods they needed.
At the market, however, trading was mainly based on money.
A very important role in peasant trade was played by fairs, which were held both in towns and in the countryside. Fairs were the places were cattle were mainly bought and sold. With their traditions, fairs were highly popular events. Besides trading they were important places for meeting one's friends and acquaintances and taking some recreation. In addition to those who wanted to sell or by something. Fairs were also frequented by many others, especially younger people, who had no other business there than buy some sweets their pocket money and have a good time in general.
Through barter peasants also came into trade relations with each other. Those from the coastal regions - with fishermen for fish, with handicraftsmen for their products, and with Russian peasants from the shore of lake Peipsi (Peipus) for vegetables.
An essential role throughout centuries was played by peddling. That meant economy of working time for farmers, since the necessary goods were brought home to them. Very many of the pedlars used to come to Estonia from Russia. Their peddling trips lasted up to the First World War.
The forerunners of country shops were taverns. There peasants could barter corn and other agricultural products for the commodities they needed. The network of country shops took shape in Estonia during the second half of last and the beginning of this century.
