Serfdom in Russia

Serfdom in Russia, prevalent from the 17th to the mid-19th century, was a system where peasants were tied to the land and under the control of landowners. Serfs could not leave the estate where they worked without permission and owed labor and dues to their landlords. This structure limited their freedom and rights, resembling a form of feudalism. In 1861, Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom, granting serfs personal freedom and land, though many remained economically dependent on their former masters, marking a significant shift in Russian society and economy.