Introduction
During the Middle Ages, feudalism was the law of the land and divided society into the upper classes and the common people. This article aims to clarify the difference between peasants and serfs during this time period.
Serfs
Serfs were bound to a manor, where they provided manual labor in exchange for protection. They were not allowed to leave the manor without their lord’s permission. Serfs spent half their time working for the lord, performing various menial jobs on the manor. They were also required to pay taxes to their lord in the form of domestic animals and poultry. If the manor was taken over by a new lord, the serfs had to accept them as their new lord.
Peasants
Peasants were at the bottom of the class system, just above slaves. They took an oath of obedience to their lord and worked in the lord’s fields throughout the year. Peasants had their own piece of land but had to pay taxes to their lord and the Church. These taxes, called tithe, amounted to 10% of the value of their farm produce. There were two types of peasants: free peasants who could work independently as blacksmiths, weavers, etc., and bonded or indentured peasants who had their own land but had to work on the lord’s farms.
Differences between Peasants and Serfs
– Peasants and serfs were both part of the working class, ranked above slaves.
– Serfs were property of the lord and belonged to the manorial system, while peasants had their own land and paid rent to the lord.
– Serfs were obligated to work and do menial jobs for their lord, while peasants had the freedom to pursue their own businesses.
– Serfs were a specific type of peasants who were bound to a lord through hereditary obligations.
Highlights
1. Feudalism formed the basis of the class system during the Middle Ages, dividing society between the upper classes (lords and nobles) and the lower classes (peasants, serfs, and slaves).
2. Serfs were bound to a manor and provided manual labor in exchange for protection. They were not permitted to leave the manor without permission and were obligated to pay taxes to their lords.
3. Peasants were at the bottom of the class system, just above slaves, and lived a harsh life. They had their own piece of land but had to pay rent to the lord and also pay taxes to the Church. There were free peasants who could work on their own and bonded peasants who had to work on the lord’s farms.
