History of serfdom

Serfdom is a social class in a feudal system, by which an agricultural laborer is bound to work under their lord's estate, and may not leave. This practice, while most prevalent in Medieval Europe has a long history that dates back to the beginnings of human civilization, with helots in the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, and coloni in the Roman Empire. It persisted and grew through the 13th Century, before beginning to decline during the 14th-16th centuries, due to a growing economy, powerful monarchs, changes in population, and growing numbers of rebellions.

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