Serfdom
Serfdom was a socio-economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, where peasants, known as serfs, were tied to a lord's land. Unlike slaves, serfs couldn't be bought or sold, but they were not free; they had to work on the lord's estate and pay rent, usually in the form of crops or labor. In return, the lord offered protection and a place to live. This system supported the feudal hierarchy, where land was the main source of wealth and power. Serfdom gradually declined with the rise of towns, trade, and more modern economic systems.
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Serfdom was a social and economic system in medieval Europe where peasants, known as serfs, were bound to work on a lord's land in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate certain fields for their own use. Unlike slaves, serfs could not be bought or sold, but they had little personal freedom and were obligated to follow the lord's rules. They paid rent through labor or goods, and their status was often inherited. Serfdom declined with the rise of economic changes, shifts in power, and the emergence of a more market-driven economy, particularly from the late Middle Ages onward.