Serfs had to give up their lives to a feudal contract, and so they had to give a lot. Serfs had to give up their freedom and other things in order to have a place to live in a manner. Along with their freedom, serfs had to give up a portion of their annual harvest to their lords. These claims were inherited by the serfs children.(Goucher, LeGuin, Walton 3) The serf had to stay under the vassals protection. They also had to pay many taxes. The serfs had to pay rent and taxes for almost anything. This goes from marriage to death, their is a tax for almost anything important.(Goucher, LeGuin, Walton 7) Serfs also had to give the landowner, priests, and steward a portion of their harvest. These serfs had to also give gifts to the landowner on special occasions. Serfs were also obliged to do other tasks as well. This includes fetching firewood, running errands, and ect.(Goucher, LeGuin, Walton 8) Along with losing so much the serf also gains things as well. The serf may have given so much, but it isn’t easy for their lord either. The landowner had to have the right amount amount of land for the serf to use. The landowner, after being satisfied, must give the serf back a portion of his or her harvest. At times of death the lord may offer aid to the family of the dying one, or aid the serf for his or her last few minutes.The most important one was that, the lord offered protection to the …show more content…
Lords give many things o the system in order to maintain a high position. Lords had to give vassals land and wealth in order to have many vassals under them. These lords offered their vassals protection for their services.(Smith, Andrew 2) Lords had to give kings and or dukes military and political services in return for large fiefs.(Smith, Andrew 3) In the process of getting a knight, or a vassal, the lord he has to give a knight obligations as well as a fief. Lords get a lot in return for all they do. The Lord, in return for his military services and political services, gets large fiefs. He gets military services from other vassals. In this way, because he gets lords to work for him, and these lords have vassals under them, the lord creates a military force to keep himself protected. The lord plays an important role in the feudal system, he gives, but also gets a lot from this