Serfdom in England

Common card · No. 345515

Serfdom was present in England from its breakaway from the Roman Empire in 410AD up until its eventual decline with Peasants' Revolt in 1381, and ending fully in 1574. England depended heavily on serfdom for its agricultural working, with up to 30% of the population of England working in a fief, and 50% of the land tied up in serfdom. Peasants were often poorly taken care of by their lords, with several dying of hunger or sickness while working their land. Despite this, serfs were disallowed from "switching" fiefs; lords were often overprotective of their serfs and serfs escaping in this way to other lords were often a cause for conflict.

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