The wealth disparity among the peasantry is highlighted by what they pass on to the next generation. Wealthier peasants leave behind inheritances, while the poorest have nothing to bequeath and thus, go unrecorded in history. This creates a silence surrounding their existence and experiences.

This silence makes it difficult for historians to fully understand the realities of peasant life in the past, as the testimony of the poorer classes is largely absent. Tuchman points out that for most classes, the quest for historical accuracy is challenging, but it is particularly elusive when it comes to the poorest peasants whose lives remain undocumented.