What is medieval serfdom?
What is medieval serfdom?
Serfdom, condition in medieval Europe in which a tenant farmer was bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of his landlord. The vast majority of serfs in medieval Europe obtained their subsistence by cultivating a plot of land that was owned by a lord.
What are some characteristics of serfs?
- Serfs had to life in small, crowded cottages.
- Serfs had to share their cottages with livestock and other animals.
- Peasants had to farm their own land and the land of their lord.
What were the duties of serfs?
Serfs were the poorest of the peasant class, and were a type of slave. Lords owned the serfs who lived on their lands. In exchange for a place to live, serfs worked the land to grow crops for themselves and their lord. In addition, serfs were expected to work the farms for the lord and pay rent.
Why was serfdom adopted in medieval Europe?
Serfdom developed in Eastern Europe after the Black Death epidemics of the mid-14th century, which stopped the eastward migration. The resulting high land-to-labour ratio – combined with Eastern Europe’s vast, sparsely populated areas – gave the lords an incentive to bind the remaining peasantry to their land.
What kind of legal rights did lords have over their serfs?
Europe and the Middle Ages, 1000-1500
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| in the Manorial System, what legal rights did the lords have over the serfs? | lord had the right to control marriage, to resolve legal issues, to demand payment for services, and levy taxes |
| an agricultural estate run by a lord and worked by peasants | manor |
How many hours a week did feudal serfs work?
40
How was the Black Death a turning point in history?
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What was the punishment for high treason in medieval times?
During the High Middle Ages, those in England guilty of treason were punished in a variety of ways, including drawing and hanging. In the 13th century other more severe penalties were introduced, such as disembowelling, burning, beheading, and quartering.