medieval serfs

Medieval serfs were peasants tied to the land they worked on during the Middle Ages in Europe. They were not free to leave the manor without permission from their lord, who owned the land. In exchange for protection and the right to work a small plot for themselves, serfs performed labor on the lord's estate and paid various dues, often in the form of crops or services. While they had some rights, serfs lived under considerable obligations and limitations, making their status less than that of free individuals, but they were essential to the feudal economy.