Krysta Slate

4-8-10
Social Studies
Speech; Peasants and serfs

Peasants and serfs were not considered slaves though, they were on the

lowest level of the feudal pyramid. In this paper, I am going to be discussing

the following topics: The general background and life of serfs and peasants,

how they affected people of today, and how peasants and serfs also had a

great affect on history.

First in this presentation, I am going to be telling you about the

general background or serfs and peasants. The villages peasants lived in

were full of 10-60 families living in rough huts on dirt floors, with no

chimneys or windows. Often, one end of the hut was given over to storing

livestock. Furnishings were sparse; three legged stools, a trestle table, beds

on the floor softened with straw or leaves. The peasant diet was mainly

porridge, cheese, black bread, and a few home-grown vegetables. Peasants

had a hard life, but they did not work on Sundays or on the frequent saints'

days, and they could go to nearby fairs and markets. The lot of serfs was

much harsher.

Serfs were bound to the manor.The manor is any similar territorial unit in
medieval Europe, as a feudal estate. They could not be bought or sold. They

could buy their way out of freedom, but most, or all of them did not have

nearly enough money to do so. Serfs were minorly punished if they did not do

the work assigned to them, but not nearly as bad as slaves. They made the

goods and got protection for it. They did all of their work for the lords.

Although not technically a slave, a serf was bound to a lord for life. He could

own no property and needed the lord's permission to marry. Under no

circumstance could a serf leave the land without the lord's permission unless

he chose to run away. If he ran to a town and managed to stay there for a

year and a day, he was a free man. However, the serf did have rights. He

could not be displaced if the manor changed hands. He could not be required

to fight, and he was entitled to the protection of the lord.

Next, let's talk about the affect serfs and peasants made on

the people today. They worked very hard in the fields to keep their owners'

land and fields in great condition. A typical serf or peasant could be a

blacksmith, landworker, etc. If serfs and peasants weren't around to clean

the nobles fields, the nobles would have to do it all by themselves.

Last, peasants and serfs also made a great affect on history.

Personally, I think slavery partly developed from serfs. They were a lot like
slaves, but they could buy themselves from freedom. Also, they were not

punished as seriously.

So, now you know a lot about the general life and background of

peasants and serfs, how peasants and serfs affected people today, and how

they affected history. I hope you enjoyed this speech, and learned a lot

from it. Thank you.