Serfs, who were bound to the land, often worked on the lord’s demesne—the land that was directly controlled by the lord for his own use. Free peasants had more flexibility but still paid rent for the land they occupied. In both cases, peasants were essentially working for the land they lived on, and their economic lives were constrained by the demands of their lords.
The Life of a Serf vs. a Free Peasant
While both serfs and free peasants faced hardships, there were notable differences between their lives. Serfs were tied to the land and their lords. They could not leave the manor without permission, and they had few legal rights. The lord had the power to dictate the terms of their labor and often imposed harsh penalties for disobedience. However, serfs did not have to pay rent in money. Instead, their labor and a portion of their harvest were sufficient to meet their obligations.
Free peasants, on the other hand, had the freedom to move about, negotiate rents, and even buy land. While they were not subject to the same oppressive system as the serfs, they still lived under the burden of heavy taxes and fees to their local lords or the Church. Although free peasants had more independence, they often had to pay cash rents and deal with the constant threat of harsh winters or bad harvests that could push them into poverty. shutdown123