Historians of medieval society tend to emphasise the roles of either individual peasants or the village community. They also debate the importance of the market in the peasant economy. Here the focus is on partnership, defined as two or more people pursuing common objectives in a mutual co-operative relationship. Peasants sometimes held land jointly, and new land might be cleared by two or more people. Pairs of peasants regularly took on paid work. It is argued that a likely explanation for occasional flurries of litigation was a breakdown of partnerships. The multiple legal disputes suggest the range of collaborative activities undertaken by peasants, from domestic bread making to the management of pastures. Partnerships may have contributed to the resilience of peasant holdings, especially in the period 1370–1420. Local courts and communities responded with peace-making measures if former partners lapsed into extreme hostility.

中世纪社会的历史学家倾向于强调个体农民或村庄社区的作用。他们还争论市场在农民经济中的重要性。这里的重点是伙伴关系，定义为两个或两个以上的人在相互合作的关系中追求共同的目标。农民有时共同持有土地，新土地可能由两人或多人开垦。成对的农民定期从事有偿工作。有人认为，对偶尔出现的一系列诉讼的可能解释是合伙关系破裂。多重法律纠纷表明农民开展的合作活动范围广泛，从家庭面包制作到牧场管理。合作伙伴关系可能有助于农民土地的复原力，尤其是在 1370 年至 1420 年期间。