villeinage
Medieval peasant servitude
Villeinage was the status of a villein in medieval Europe—a peasant legally bound to work land belonging to a lord.
Unlike slaves, villeins had certain rights, but they couldn't leave the manor without permission and owed labor or produce to their lord.
The term appears in historical and legal contexts: The peasants were held in villeinage for generations.
Also spelled villeinship.
Medieval estate labor system
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- lordNobleman or ruler
- demesneLord's private estate
manor · homage · fealty · liege · suzerain · estate · bailiff · steward
Involuntary subjugation to another
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
- thrallOne held captive
- bondmanMale held in servitude
- serfBonded agricultural laborer
unfreedom · chattel · subjection · manumission · emancipation · enfranchisement
Selfish use of others
- subjugationForcing into submission
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
Thick vegetable stew
- gleaningCollecting leftover grain
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- barterDirect goods-for-goods exchange
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
hearth · cottage · livestock · pasturage · gristmill · husbandry · fallow · scythe
Curing grass for storage
- plowingTurning earth for crops
- harvestingGathering mature crops
- threshingExtracting grain from stalks
- cartingMoving cargo by wagon
mowing · reaping · drudgery · toil · compulsory service · unpaid labor · seasonal labor
manorialism
Medieval estate labor system
demesne · manor · homage · fealty · liege · suzerain · estate · bailiff · steward · reeve
bondage
Involuntary subjugation to another
serf · unfreedom · chattel · subjection · manumission · emancipation · enfranchisement
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- subjugationForcing into submission
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- injusticeDenial of fair treatment
inequality · dominance · bondage · unfreedom · rightlessness
pottage
Thick vegetable stew
- gleaningCollecting leftover grain
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- barterDirect goods-for-goods exchange
self-sufficiency · hearth · cottage · livestock · pasturage · gristmill · husbandry · fallow · scythe · sheaf
haymaking
Curing grass for storage
- plowingTurning earth for crops
- harvestingGathering mature crops
- threshingExtracting grain from stalks
carting · mowing · reaping · drudgery · toil · compulsory service · unpaid labor · seasonal labor
cottager
Resident of small rural home
commoner · rustic · ploughman · swineherd · crofter · husbandman
croft
Enclosed pasture near dwelling
villeinagefreedom
Absence of constraint
liberty · freehold · enfranchisement · manumission · emancipation
villeinagenobility
Titled ruling class
lordship · aristocracy · peerage · gentry · landed aristocracy
villain, villainy, villainous, villein, villeins, villainage