Explanation:

The statement is true. Russian peasants did pool their land together periodically and their commune (mir) divided it according to the needs of individual families. This system of communal land ownership and redistribution was known as the mir.

Here is a detailed explanation:

1. Communal Land Ownership:
- In traditional Russian society, land was often owned collectively by the community, rather than by individual families.
- Peasants would come together and pool their land resources into a communal fund called the mir.
- The mir represented the collective ownership of land by the peasants in a particular village or rural community.

2. Redistribution of Land:
- The mir would periodically divide the land among individual families based on their needs and the size of their households.
- The division of land was typically done in a way that aimed to ensure a relatively equal distribution among the families.
- The specific process and criteria for land allocation varied from one mir to another, but the general principle was to provide each family with enough land for its sustenance.

3. Importance of the Mir:
- The mir played a crucial role in the social and economic organization of Russian peasant communities.
- It provided a means for the equitable distribution of land and resources among the villagers.
- The mir also served as a mechanism for resolving conflicts and disputes related to land ownership and use.
- It fostered a sense of communal responsibility and solidarity, as the villagers worked together to manage and utilize the shared resources.

4. Decline of the Mir:
- With the emancipation of the serfs in 1861 and subsequent social and economic changes in Russia, the system of communal land ownership began to decline.
- The mir was gradually abolished in the early 20th century as part of the agricultural reforms implemented by the Russian government.
- Private ownership of land became more prevalent, and the traditional communal practices associated with the mir were replaced by individual land ownership.

Overall, the statement is true as Russian peasants did practice communal land ownership through the mir, which involved pooling land together and dividing it according to the needs of individual families.