Figure 1.-- we do not have many contemporary views of medieval serfs. Art was just beginning to develop realistic dimensions at the time serfom was behinning to decline and at any rate period artists were not interested in serfs. Art was dominated by the Church wll into the Renaissance. This is a view of an overseer using his rod to direct serfs from Queen Mary's Psalter. A psalter is a volume containing the Book of Psalms, often with other varied devotional material bound in with it. The Psalter was produced around (c. 1310�1320) by one main scribe unusually for a work so heavily illuminated, a single artist who is now known as the 'Queen Mary Master'. It is named after Mary I of England who acquired it (1553). The psalter is admired for its lavish illustration. It has been described as 'one of the most extensively illustrated psalters ever produced in Western Europe'.
Roman slavery in Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire began evolving into feudal serfdom (5th century AD). Here Christianity played an important role in ending slavery. Serfdom was the status of much of the peasantry as part of the feudal system. It was an important part of manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or forced labor. It was the basic labor component of the European aricultural economy during the Western European medievl era. It was widespread throughout western Europr except for Scandanavia including Finland which was controlled by Sweden.
The term commomly used for serf in medivl Rurope was 'villeins'. The were the social space between a free peasant (freeman) and a slave. They were the largst component of the medieval European workforce. An alternative term and more commonly used today was serf, derived from the Latin 'servus' meaning "slave". A villein or serf was a bonded tenant who could not leave the land without the landowner's approval. Serfdom was transplanted to the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores (16th century). This was possible in part because Amer-Indian civilzatins had similar social strucures. While Feudalismn and serfdom is most commonly associated with medieval European society, similar systems existed in ancient civilizations as well as as Asian society.
Serfdom continued into the 19th century in Eastern Europe. Serfs were not slaves, but they were tied to the land and lived under many restrictions and obligations to their feudal lord or in more modern times the land owner. Theoretically the feudal or lord of the manor inturn had obligaios to his serfs, but as the lord commonly had armed knights at is disposal or again in modern times the coersive oower of the state, commonly the lord of the manner could enforce his will with few limitations. Serfs were allowed to live on and work a plot of land on a manor in return they were required to provide services to the lord. Normally these services involvd working the Lord's fields, but there ere other forms of labor services performed. The serfs might have to work in the Lord's mines and forests or to maintain roads and other infrastructure. In addition to his plot, the serfs were to be provided protection and justice. Serfs might also have the right to cultivate certain fields within the manor for subsistence. Serfs were not only required to work on the lord's fields. Serfdom begn to decline in Western Europe as Europe began to emerge from he medieval era (14th century). Historians commonly attribute this to the bubonic plague (the Black Death) epidemic which spread over Western Europe (14th century). Eurioope may have lost a third of its population.
The imact of the plague on Europe is difficult to fully comprehend. The immediate impact was the huge number of people who died. The deaths created a gigantic labor shortage. This helped to end the Feudal System as feudal lords were desperate to retin their surviving serfs and bgn making concessions. There was such a need for labor in the desimated cities that peasants could run away from the estates and create a much better life for themselves. The labor shortage helped the peasants win better terms and a larger share of the harvest from their feudal masters. Those who escaped the plague often found themselves better off than before the diseae hit Europe. The decline had begun before the plague hit Europe, but the catastrophe accelerated its demise. Serfdom became increasingly rare in most of Western Europe after the Renaissance, but actully grew stronger in Central and Eastern Europe, where it had been less preavlent. Some historians refer to this as Later Serfdom. There were three empires controlling Eastern Europe (Austrian, German, and Russian (Tsarist) and here serfdom contunued into the 18th-19th century. The Austrians abolishd serfdom with the 1781 Serfdom Patent. The corv�e continued until the Revolutions of 1848. The Tsar abolished serfdom in Russia (1860).
Chronology
Roman slavery in Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire began evolving into feudal serfdom (5th century AD). Here Christianity played an important role in ending slavery. Serfdom was the status of much of the peasantry as part of the feudal system. It was an important part of manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or forced labor. It was the basic labor component of the European aricultural economy during the Western European medievl era. It was widespread throughout western Europr except for Scandanavia including Finland which was controlled by Sweden.
Terminology
The term commomly used for serf in medivl Europe was 'villeins'. The were the social space between a free peasant (freeman) and a slave. They were the largst component of the medieval European workforce. An alternative term and more commonly used today was serf, derived from the Latin 'servus' meaning "slave". A villein or serf was a bonded tenant who could not leave the land without the landowner's approval.
Bonded Status
Serfs were not slaves, but they were tied to the land and lived under many restrictions and obligations to their feudal lord or in more modern times the land owner. Theoretically the feudal or lord of the manor inturn had obligaios to his serfs, but as the lord commonly had armed knights at is disposal or again in modern times the coersive oower of the state, commonly the lord of the manner could enforce his will with few limitations. Serfs were allowed to live on and work a plot of land on a manor in return they were required to provide services to the lord. Normally these services involvd working the Lord's fields, but there ere other forms of labor services performed. The serfs might have to work in the Lord's mines and forests or to maintain roads and other infrastructure. In addition to his plot, the serfs were to be provided protection and justice. Serfs might also have the right to cultivate certain fields within the manor for subsistence. Serfs were not only required to work on the lord's fields.
World-wide Extent
Whilewe normally associate serfdom with medieval Europe, it was amuch more extenvue social conduition, bith chonologically and geographically than just medival Europe.
Ancient Times
Other regions
Serfdom was transplanted to the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores (16th century). This was possible in part because Amer-Indian civilzatins had similar social strucures. While Feudalismn and serfdom is most commonly associated with medieval European society, similar systems existed in ancient civilizations as well as as Asian society.
Serfdom begn to decline in Western Europe as Europe began to emerge from he medieval era (14th century). Historians commonly attribute this to the bubonic plague (the Black Death) epidemic which spread over Western Europe (14th century). Eurioope may have lost a third of its population.
The imact of the plague on Europe is difficult to fully comprehend. The immediate impact was the huge number of people who died. The deaths created a gigantic labor shortage. This helped to end the Feudal System as feudal lords were desperate to retin their surviving serfs and bgn making concessions. There was such a need for labor in the desimated cities that peasants could run away from the estates and create a much better life for themselves. The labor shortage helped the peasants win better terms and a larger share of the harvest from their feudal masters. Those who escaped the plague often found themselves better off than before the diseae hit Europe. The decline had begun before the plague hit Europe, but the catastrophe accelerated its demise.
The feudal system and the institution of serfdom was well estbnlishd by the middle medival era throughout Western Europe (1000 AD). Much of Western Europe was governed by a varied mosaic of feudal structures. Some operated more smoothly than others. The system was most pronounced in England, France, and Spain. In Germany), the feudal hierarchy was weaker and less well organized. This is because no unified nation state evolved in Germany. Serfdom became increasingly rare in most of Western Europe after the Black Death and Renaissance, but actully grew stronger in Central and Eastern Europe, where it had been less enforced by coersive action. Some historians refer to this as Later Serfdom. There were three empires controlling Eastern Europe (Austrian, German, and Russian (Tsarist) and here serfdom contunued into the 18th-19th century. Both Russia and Austria controlled large areas of Central an Eastern Europe. The Austrians abolishd serfdom with the 1781 Serfdom Patent. The corv�e continued until the Revolutions of 1848. The Tsar abolished serfdom in Russia (1860). German/Prussia controlled a much more limited area of Eastern Rurope, primarily adjacent areas of wester Poland.
