What is the Difference Between Peasants and Serfs?

The main difference between peasants and serfs lies in their freedom and social status. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

• Freedom: Peasants were free to roam from manor to manor to find work, while serfs were bound to the land they worked and did not have the freedom to leave to find other work.
• Social Status: All serfs were peasants, but not all peasants were serfs. Serfs were the poorest of the peasant class and were considered unfree peasants who served their lord and cultivated their lands.
• Education and Marriage: Everyday peasants could be educated and marry if they could afford it, while serfs were not permitted to do neither and could not relocate without the lord's approval.
• Inheritance: Serfs inherited their status, and their children were considered born into serfdom.
• Responsibilities: Serfs were subject to a lord's authority and had to perform various duties for their lord in exchange for protection and the right to work on their lord's land.

In summary, serfs were a subcategory of peasants with a lower social status, less freedom, and more restricted rights. They were bound to the land they worked and were subject to their lord's authority, while peasants had more freedom and opportunities for education and marriage.

Comparative Table: Peasants vs Serfs

The main differences between peasants and serfs are summarized in the table below:

While serfs were peasants, not all peasants were serfs. Serfs were tied to the land and their lords, which limited their economic opportunities and mobility. They were not able to accumulate wealth or improve their social status through their own labor, as their labor and produce belonged to their lord. Additionally, serfs were required to pay taxes and give a portion of their crops to their lord, which further limited their economic possibilities. On the other hand, peasants had greater economic opportunities and mobility, owned their own land or rented it, and were considered to be lower-middle class, having more autonomy and independence in their lives.