Serfdom is a social and economic institution that prevailed in various societies throughout history, typically during medieval times. It refers to a system where individuals, known as serfs or peasants, were bound to the land they worked on and were considered the property of the lord or feudal lord who owned the land.
In serfdom, serfs were compelled to provide labor services to the feudal lord, working the land and carrying out various tasks, such as farming, herding livestock, or other forms of manual labor. In return, the serfs were granted protection and allowed to reside on a specific portion of the lord's land.
Serfdom was characterized by limited personal freedom and the absence of social mobility. Serfs were tied to the land and were not allowed to leave without permission from the feudal lord. They resided in small communities known as manors, which were self-sustaining agricultural units.
The feudal lord, as the landowner and administrator, held substantial power over the serfs' lives. They were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining law and order, and providing a certain level of protection to the serfs. The serfs, on the other hand, were obligated to provide labor, pay rents and fees, and surrender a portion of their agricultural produce to the feudal lord.
Serfdom gradually declined with the emergence of other economic systems, such as capitalism, and movements towards greater individual freedoms. However, it played a significant role in shaping the social structure and economic relationships of societies during the Middle Ages.
