Serfs

=__Roles and Responsibilities__ = **Serfs, also known as peasants in the middle ages, who were bound to the land of his lord, were required to do heavy ****amounts of labor. A serf also had to pay taxes and fees like everyone else but this was usually paid for in labor because they didn’t have enough money to pay off the full tithe. Serfs usually did the physical labor that had to be done in order to maintain the manner. This mainly consisted of tending to the lord’s land. Such labors included plowing fields, growing crops, and harvesting. Other responsibilities were pruning trees, baking, crafting, and repairing roofs. Serfs were also required to take care of the animals which included sheering sheep, feeding various other domesticated animals and cleaning them. When the weather got colder, serfs would slaughter the cows and pigs and smoke the meat. Serf's daily lives were full of hard work, harsh taxes, and filthy chores. **

=__Restrictions__ = ===Unlike wealthy landowners, merchants and clergy, Serfs had a constant struggle to stay alive and survive their harsh === lifestyle, as well as being controlled by every other upper class. They had to listen to what other people said, being the lowest rank of society. They had no freedom what so ever. Serfs were obligated to work the land, owned by lords in the higher class. They also had to pay taxes for working, as well as for the land they lived on. Every serf was required to take an allegiance, swearing to follow any rules set up by their Lord. Their work included difficult labor like plowing fields, planting, caring for crops, harvesting corn, and cutting and storing wood.

=__Clothing__ =

===Serfs did not have fancy clothes. They wore clothing that was essential and useful. Serfs usually wore a shirt and === woven pants held up by a belt. Sometimes attached to the belt was a cover for their knife. To keep warm they wore long overcoats, coifs (a hood like hat), and gloves. The gloves doubled as protection for their hands from all the hard labour. According to the law a serfs clothing technically belonged to his lord. = =

=__Treatment__ = ===Serfs in the middle ages had no freedom. They were forced laborers who were bound to their land, owned by the Lords and they practically had no possessions. Serfs were forced to pay many taxes and they didn't even have enough money to return the taxes, so they had to use their crops, earned by a long day’s work. In addition, serfs were not allowed to get married without the permission of their lord, and they were born into being a serf, so previous family members had the impact of what you would become. Serfs were under complete control of their lords, and Lords vowed to protect them and give them land in return for crops and money. They were not sellable, but when the land was passed onto another lord, then the serf stayed with the land, and began working for the new lord. On the other hand, serfs were not allowed to abandon their land without permission and they were never entitled to the land. But in conclusion, serfs were treated fairly, even though they weren't to make any decisions on their own. ===



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== Modern Day Connections: [|__http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7217398.stm__] ==

__ Works Cited __

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Nash, Tim. “Life of Peasants in Medieval Times.” //theFinerTimes//. N.p., 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. []. ======