4. Restricted Rights and Autonomy
Serfs lacked legal and personal freedoms, needing permission from their lord to marry or travel. Their limited autonomy stifled social mobility. The only time a serf would leave their holding would be at the lord’s whim if mobilized for battle. This was the one time a serf could potentially improve their standing, but it was at risk to their own life. For more information, see World History Encyclopedia: Serf.
