Explain how the end of "serfdom" came about? how did it end?

Question

also, what was life really like for the average person living on an estate back then as a serf?
how was this lifestyle different then , for example, black slavery in the US?
Do you think workers of today are really better off?
how so?

Answer 1

So many questions, so little time!
It is generally accepted that the last example of serfdom in Europe was wiped out by the socialist uprising in Russia in 1917.
Serfdom involved people being in allowed to grow produce on their own land, but being obliged to work many hours for the person who in England would have been called the lord of the manor. Any surplus produce they could keep for themselves or, in a good year, take to market. They could not leave the estate without the express permission of the Lord and could be pressed into military service, should the need arise.
Things didn't change that much during the historically brief intervention of Communism.
As to whether workers today are better off, you might be interested in the following (reported) conversation:
In a small town in North-West England, there was a firm producing state-of-the-art dry cleaning machines. A Soviet delegation visited the factory and were given a tour. One of the Soviets said that all the workers in the Soviet Union received the same pay and worked the same hours, regardless of years of service, experience or qualifications. The English boss said, 'they won't do that in England.' 'Why not?' ' They're all bloody Communists!'

Look at how much tax you pay! Work out how many hours/months you work just for the government. Then ask yourself if the workers are better off today.

Answer 2

Serfdom, or villienage, came to an end in England and in much of Western Europe as a result of the Black Death. With up to one-third of the population, dead workers were in a much stronger position to demand payment for their labour. There was no sudden 'one day' event that ended the system, it just fell away gradually. In Russia, serfdom lasted much longer, until the middle of the 19th century, in fact, until ended by Tsarist decree. It is very difficult to say how the lifestyle was different from black American slaves - except that in both cases people were no free to do as they want. Of course workers today - in the developed nations - are better off. They are paid, are mobile, in that they can change their job whenever they want (subject, of course, to their being work available). Once out of work, on their own time, they can do what they like (legally) and are not at the beck and call of their employer. They live in houses with electricity and running water, have television and computers. There is no comparison at all with the life of serfs in the past.

Answer 3

To say serfdom fell apart because of the black death is a fraction simplistic. Whilst the economic effects of the black death (in 1349) should not be underestimated, workers could gain a signifiacntly higher wage for their labour (simple supply/demand economics). This though was in their own time. Serfdom was the principle that you worked x hours per week/year on your lords land (as well as having to serve in his army) in exchange for protection and your small holding. The rest of the time you were free to work as you wish (and post 1349 earn higher wages).

These higher wages actually postponed the end of serfdom. To put it very simply, people post black death were living the good life, they had no real desire to overthrow the system. It was not until some 30 years later in the 1380's that the political system was really threatened leading to the peasants revolt of 1389.

As for whether people were better off, really very subjective question, and also implies conditions of serfdom were constant. In 1300 conditions were pretty grim, there was much over crowding and diet would have been poor (so much so that some 10% of the population of europe died between 1300-1340 -i.e. preplague). Yet in 1100 a time of expansion and plenty (co-inciding with warmer weather) it was a 'golden age' for serfdom.

Ofcourse if you consider better off as being in political terms then of course no they were not better off than now. They were the subjects of their lord and needless to say had no democratic rights...

Finally, slavery. Serfdom was very different, the serfs simply paid their rent in labour, as well as in other obligations (e.g. military service) they could do their own work as well. Serfs could not be bought or sold as property like slaves in America (or for that matter in the ancient world).

Answer 4

In England serfdom was brought to an end by the Black Death in the 14th century. As a result of so many deaths, those serfs left alive were in a powerful bargaining position As a result landowners were forced to pay people to work on the land.

Answer 5

Serfdom probably ended very soon after the arrival of the Normans in England.

One curious historical note concerning the Normans, tells of their not fully understanding Welsh culture, to such as point that they assumed the Welsh were peasants, or small land owners. The Normans handed out money, not realising as they did so, that the majority of the Welsh were actually serfs and not peasants. Naturally, after receiving this 'money', everyone dashed off down to the pub and got boozed up! It's what money is for, ain't it?

Answer 6

Serfdom is the socio-economic status of peasants under feudalism, specifically in the manorial economic system (also known as seigneurialism) and is a condition of bondage or modified slavery. Serfdom is the forced labour of serfs, on the fields of land owners, in return for protection and the right to work on their leased fields. Serfdom involved work not only on fields, but various agricultural-related works, like forestry, transportation (both land and river-based), work in craft and even in manufactures.

Serfs are laborers who are bound to the land; they formed the lowest social class of the feudal society. Serfs differed from slaves in that serfs were allowed property for themselves and could not be sold apart from the land which they worked. Serfs are also defined as people in whose labor landowners held property rights. In prerevolutionary Russia a landowner's estate was often measured by the number of "souls" he owned.

This feudal relationship evolved from agricultural slavery of late Roman Empire and spread through Europe around the 10th century; it flourished in Europe from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. After the Renaissance, serfdom became increasingly rare in most of Western Europe but was strong in the Central and Eastern Europe (this phenomenon was known as the second serfdom). In England, it lasted up to the 1600s and in France until 1789. In Eastern Europe the institution persisted until the mid 19th century. In Finland, Norway and Sweden feudalism was not established, and serfdom did not exist.

Answer 7

I think basically the feudal system fell apart in the end becuase of the Black Death - there were too few people left for it to work. The king divided up the land between his barons, who in turn sub-let bits of it to knights who gave bits to their serfs. In return for protection by their local knight, serfs worked most of the time on his land and were allowed a couple of days a work to grow their own crops and stuff. They had to pay rent to their lord. Rebellions like Wat Tyler's were violently dealt with. Serfs were not allowed to leave their home village without express permission from their lord - women had to ask permission to get married etc. Serfs were basically property, but in times of hardship they were given food and protection. It is, I suppose, a little like black slavery. Workers are better off today becuase a) they get unions, b) they don't have to pay rent to their boss and c) they don't usually have to ask permission to leave their town/village!

Answer 8

In France and Germany Serfdom was abolished by law during Napoleonic times. Today´s workers: They can change their employer and occupation, and are not subject to corporal punishment.