Peasants/Serfs

In the feudal system, which dominated medieval Europe, peasants and serfs formed the working class responsible for agriculture and labor. Peasants were generally free farmers who paid rent to landowners, while serfs were bound to the land and worked for a lord in exchange for protection and the right to work a small plot for their own needs. Both groups had limited rights, and their living conditions often depended on the lord's wealth and influence. This system created a social hierarchy where land ownership and loyalty were central to economic and political power.