چكيده لاتين
The city of Darcheh, with its ancient history and special geographical location, has always had a special place in the Isfahan region. The cityʹs proximity to the Zayandeh-Rood River and the White Mountain, as well as its location among four important centers, namely Isfahan, Khomeini Shahr, Falavarjan, and Najafabad, has increased its geographical and economic importance. These features have made Darcheh known as one of the key points in the field of agriculture and livelihood of the villagers. In 1345, Darcheh officially acquired the title of city. However, before that and even after becoming a city, its economy and social life were dependent on agricultural lands. The agricultural lands of Darcheh, which were called "Sahra" in the local language, were diverse and extensive, and each had an independent identity. A distinctive feature of these lands was that they belonged to several owners or lords. This had led to the formation of a small ownership structure in the region. The majority of the owners of these lands lived in the city of Isfahan and had little direct connection with agriculture. This led to the lord-serf system prevailing over the lands of Darche; meaning that the lords managed the lands only through their tenants and representatives, and the farmers, as serfs, were considered the main labor force in this economic cycle.
With the beginning of land reforms in the country and the approval and implementation of the law in 1341/1962, Darche was also included in this national program. Based on the findings of library research and field interviews with farmers in the region, the implementation of this law created a fundamental change in the structure of land ownership and the livelihood of the villagers. Although the amount of land allocated to each farmer was limited, this change also satisfied many farmers. They believed that the implementation of this plan, albeit on a small scale, freed them from the state of absolute dependence on the lord and provided a basis for their relative economic independence.
A notable point in the farmers’ narrative is that most lords in Darcheh, unlike in some other regions of the country, were somewhat pacifist in their dealings with their subjects. According to witnesses, when crops were damaged by pests or climatic conditions, many lords were flexible and considerate of the farmers. However, the overall structure of ownership and the lord-serf system continued to reproduce deep social and economic inequalities that could only be changed by implementing land reforms. As a result, the present study, conducted using library methods and field interviews, seeks to show that land reforms in Darcheh were a turning point in the transition from the lord-serf system to a new form of ownership and agricultural livelihood. However, the limitations of this plan remained.
