Overview

Serfdom was a coercive relationship between a landowner and peasant, which was widespread across medieval and early modern Europe. It features prominently in major historical debates, such as the origins of capitalism and the divergent pathways of western and eastern Europe to modernity. Scholars have paid particular attention to English serfdom, which is usually portrayed as highly oppressive and a major cause of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. This comprehensive survey draws on a vast scholarship and new research to show how, in reality, English serfdom was weak, casting new light on the nature of its society and economy when the Black Death struck in 1348-1349. The pandemic now assumes a central role in the rapid decline of serfdom, as illustrated in a case study of the estate of one of England's harshest landowners, St Albans abbey.

Full Product Details

Author:   Mark Bailey
Publisher:   Manchester University Press
Imprint:   Manchester University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.674kg
ISBN:  

9781526172976

ISBN 10:   1526172976
Pages:   456
Publication Date:   25 November 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD  
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Table of Contents

Introduction Part I: Serfdom in theory and practice 1 Serfdom in legal theory 2 Serfdom in practice: freedom and unfreedom 3 Serfdom in practice: certainty and uncertainty 4 Serfdom in practice: access to the law Part II: Serfdom in England: causes and consequences 5 Causes: explaining the weakness of serfdom 6 Consequences: serfdom and the crisis of the early fourteenth century Part III: Serfdom in England: the impact of the Black Death through three case studies 7 The Black Death and serfdom 8 The manor of Codicote 9 The manor of Winslow 10 The manor of Norton 11 Serfdom, the Black Death and three manors of St Albans abbey Conclusion Bibliography Index -- .

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Author Information

Mark Bailey is Professor of Later Medieval History at the University of East Anglia.

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