Serfs and peasants had poor social positions primarily due to the feudal system, which entrenched social hierarchies and limited their rights and freedoms. They were often bound to the land they worked, required to provide labor and produce to their lords in exchange for protection and housing, which left them with little autonomy or economic power. Additionally, their lack of education and access to resources further marginalized them, reinforcing their low status within society. This systemic inequality perpetuated cycles of poverty and dependence, making upward mobility nearly impossible.
serfs
The serfs belonged to the poor class.
They were known as serfs.
Poor people far outnumbered middle class in the Middle Ages. The serfs and other peasants were the great majority of the population, and the Middle Class was very small. So there were more cottages for poor people than middle class houses.
A structural sin refers to the wrongs that is done to a given society. Poor peasants being driven out of their land by the rich tycoon is an example of the sinful social structures.
Peasants and serfs
peasants or serfs back in European feudalism
serfs
The serfs belonged to the poor class.
A serf was a peasant, but not all peasants were serfs.A peasant is usually a farmer. A peasant could be free or not, and though most were doubtless poor, we find references to well-to-do or prosperous peasants. Serfs are peasants legally bound to a lord's land, and were not allowed to move away. Serfs usually had to provide labor in exchange for a place to live and work.
Most medieval peasants were poor. In fact, most were serfs, who could not own land and were not allowed to move away from the manors on which they lived. A few peasants were independent farmers who held their own land, and some of these were referred to by contemporary writers as wealthy. They were, of course only wealthy relative to other peasants, and had very little wealth compared to the lords.
They were known as serfs.
Serfs ( slaves) or villein and peasants. A peasant was a bit better off than the serf. He wasn't owned, but was just as poor. There were some who were on the edges like the bone pickers, and the rat catchers.
they were homless poor people
Poor people far outnumbered middle class in the Middle Ages. The serfs and other peasants were the great majority of the population, and the Middle Class was very small. So there were more cottages for poor people than middle class houses.
Peasants were considered lower poor or lower in the social structure. It was difficult to obtain land because of the cost of land and the ability to save or pay for the land.
A structural sin refers to the wrongs that is done to a given society. Poor peasants being driven out of their land by the rich tycoon is an example of the sinful social structures.