Study of history shows that rebellion was the most effective method which was used by disgruntled and unsatisfied elements in the medieval period both in the east and the west to fight and raise their voices against injustices and exploitation. However, the nature and motives of rebellion differed from time to time and place to place. For example, there were rebellions of the members of royal families who wanted to topple government in order to capture power. The other kind of rebellion was of aristocracy whose interest was to get more concessions and privileges for their class. However, the most threatening rebellions were of peasants that challenged the political authority and wanted to change or reform the structure of state in their favour. That is why such types of rebellions were regarded great danger to ruling classes and immediate actions were taken to crush them.

In the beginning of this century historians took great interest in peasants rebellions and reconstructed their movements with the help of official documents, institutional records, judicial proceedings, and folk literature. Such histories broke many myths about peasants who were portrayed as illiterate and inexperienced in political matters. The records, on the contrary, show that they had ability to organize, settle disputes, negotiate, and inspire their fellows for a cause to struggle. Sometimes, in the official histories, it appears that there was no impact of their rebellions and they were simply crushed without any résistance. However, the deep studies show that as a result of their rebellions, ruling classes and political powers had to change their strategies and in some cases it led to restructure the whole state and its agencies.

These studies also show that it is a wrong impression that ordinary people did not contribute in making history. On the other hand, their contribution was immense. They were not passive spectators but active contributors in process of history.

Wayne Te Brake, in his book ‘Shaping History: Ordinary People in European Politics, 1500-1700” traces peasants rebellions and their consequences on state and society. He focuses on the rebellions that occurred in the 16^th and 17^th centuries against the kings and feudal lords in different countries of Europe. These rebellions were well organized and motivated. The peasants elected their leaders who had the capacity to organize armies and to fight against royal forces. As most of the peasants were raw, therefore they trained them in warfare and inspired them to fight against injustice. It was also the task of these leaders to keep different rebellious groups in unity. The manifestos, which were issued by the peasants during their rebellions, show their political insight and commitment to their cause. These manifestos had a future vision of a society where everybody could get his share and rights; it demanded the reduction of ruler’s authority; and to reform the state administration The most attractive provision was the concept of equality in society; a dream which all unprivileged classes wanted to realize.

One of the characteristics of these rebellions was that religion was used on both sides. The ruling authorities urged peasants to be loyal to the king and desist from denying his authority. They quoted from the Bible that love, patience and submission were required by Christ to be followed by people. Peasants, on the other hand, also used religion in their favour In 1526, there was a peasant rebellion in Swabia (Germany) where the peasants besides demanding their grievances also declared that: “ It has until now been the custom for the lords to own us a their property. This is deplorable, for Christ redeemed and brought us all with his precious blood, the lowliest shepherd as well as the great lord, with no exception. Thus the Bible proves that we are free and want to be free.”

When Luther revolted against the Church and Pope, it divided the church into two sects: Protestants and Catholics. However, the result of this revolt was that both sects reformed their organization and institutions in order to face challenges. The Catholic Church, loosing authority and its disciples, reorganized and restructured under counter-Reformation. This revolt against the church, however, inspired the peasants throughout Europe to revolt for their rights. They argued that when church could be reformed as a result of rebellion why not state? This unleashed peasants’ rebellions throughout Europe. In Germany, Luther whose revolt was successful because of the support of the German princes condemned the peasants’ rebellion. He exhorted the rulers to crush these rebellions with stern hand and declared that the authority of the state was very important and if it challenged and weakened by uprisings, society would be disintegrated.

In this study, it is proved that how ordinary people, as a result of their various activities influenced state and rulers to change their attitude and adopt those policies that were popular. These rebellions broke down institutional and cultural barriers that separated elite from people. There was examples of France where Louis xiv deliberately aligned him with the popular piety and official orthodoxy of the Counter-Reformation to please his subject. In England, in 1688, the Parliament ousted the catholic king and invited William and marry to inaugurate the’ the Glorious Revolution”.

It is proved that rebellions played very significant role in history. They broke than stagnancy of society and mobilized some sections of society to act and change the out-dated and obsolete traditions and institutions. Though most of these rebellions were crushed but left their marks on society. Even after loosing their struggle, they forced rulers and authorities to change and reform. If authorities refused to budge and accept the process of change, such societies either faced rebellions after rebellions and disintegrated or remained backward and stagnant.