UK Citizenship Practice Test 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Achieve Success!

Serfs were indeed peasants who were bound to the land owned by their lord during the Middle Ages. This relationship was part of the feudal system, where serfs worked the land and, in return, were provided with protection and a small portion of the agricultural output for their subsistence. While they had some rights, they were not free to leave the land without the lord's permission and were obligated to work for the lord for a significant part of each week.

The nobility ruled over the land as lords but were not serfs themselves. Wealthy merchants were distinct from serfs as they engaged in trade and were part of a growing urban economy. Knights served a military role and were often landholders in their own right, distinguishing them further from the agricultural duties and obligations of serfs. Understanding the conditions of serfs reveals the complexities of social and economic relationships during the feudal period.