Final answer:
Peasants are distinguished from modern farmers in that they produced mainly for subsistence within feudal systems, while modern farmers often focus on commercial production for broader markets.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a group, peasants can be distinguished from modern farmers because they produced primarily for their own subsistence and were often subject to noble overlords, fulfilling obligations such as rents and services. Unlike modern farmers who are more engaged in commercial farming, using advanced technologies, and may focus on producing for a global market, peasants were traditionally part of manorial systems where their primary concern was survival rather than profit. Their production was limited, and any surplus was typically used to fulfill feudal duties or exchanged within a local economy that lacked a developed market system.