📖 what
What was serfdom in the Middle Ages?
Quick Answer
Serfdom was a system in which peasants were legally tied to the land they worked. Serfs were not enslaved, but they had limited freedom to leave or change lords.
The Full Story
Serfdom was widespread in medieval Europe, especially between roughly the 9th and 14th centuries. Serfs farmed land belonging to a lord and in return received protection and the right to work plots for their own subsistence. They often had to provide labor services, pay fees, or give part of their harvest. While not slaves, serfs usually could not simply move away, marry, or inherit land without permission from the manor or lord.
Key Facts
1.Common in medieval Europe from about the 9th century
2.Serfs were tied to the land, not owned as slaves
3.They owed labor, rent, or produce
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Were serfs free? The medieval system that limited peasant life"
Was this answer helpful?
Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.