Why Do Serfs Survive In The Middle Ages

Serfs were the lowest social class and had needs that were essential to them for survival. During the Middle Ages, they lived hard and dangerous lives. They had almost no control of their lives (Richardson). They could not be sold like slaves but they also were not allowed to leave the land (Richardson). Many peasants were forced to leave their own problems and do work for the lord instead (Bennett 103). They were sometimes threatened to do something through intimidation, threats, or pressure (Bennett 125). When other men could buy themselves off with money, peasants had nothing to offer except for the little goods they had (Bennett 125). Serfs had to suffer silently, because no one was powerful enough to speak up (Bennett 125). If serfs

Because of the need of survival, most peasants stayed on the land and continued to work (Nardo 25). In order to get what they required, serfs needed to provide their lord with many things. Peasants provided service for the nobles (Richardson). They had to work the land, serve the lord’s house, and pay taxes (Richardson). They gave their service, work, food, and clothing to him (Biel 10). Freemen even gave up the land they had to their lords (Biel 10). On the land, a portion of the fief given to the lord by the king, serfs had to plant and harvest their crops (Nardo 25). They kept some of the food but much automatically went to the lord and his knights (Nardo 25). They were responsible for clothing, feeding, and providing for the upper classes, as well as themselves (Nardo 27). Serfs also received things that were important to them from their lords. Even though the classes above them benefited from most of the work they did, lords and kings were expected to protect them if the land was invaded (Richardson). In return for their work, lords also gave them a share of land, included by the fief to grow their own crops and build houses (Cels 4). Peasants depended on their lord for jobs and security, and in return maintained his manor and kept him supplied food and other goods

During the Middle Ages, a military needed to be formed for the king’s protection and survival of the medieval culture. The creation of an army was done by grouping peasants together to support a knight (Lenehan). The farmers that had been grouped together became tied to the land that was connected to the knight (Lenehan). If any of the peasants, the land may be no longer able to support him (Lenehan). The professional warriors depended on the food and produce peasants had through farming and working (Lenehan). The king was provided with armies of knights from lords, allowing him to call the soldiers whenever he was in danger. Lords were able to enlist the military services of former Carolingian, also known as Roman soldiers and tribal warriors (C. Smith ). A lord was expected to supply his king with an army of knights, whenever called upon (Biel 9). A vassal was entitled to a fief as long as he remained loyal (C. Smith ). The fief provided him and his family with land ownership, food, resources, and power over the lower class people who lived in that territory (C. Smith ). Land ownership was the only reliable measure of wealth in medieval society (C. Smith ). Unlike currency or precious metals, it had a permanent value of producing food and other resources (C. Smith ). Because of this, knights generally rose from rich soldiers to wealthy members of the ruling class (Biel 9). Over time, the feudal