Similarities Between Peasants And Serfs

Peasants and serfs did not have the best life. In fact, life for them was extremely hard. They worked long hours every day to ensure that their families had enough to eat. Most of them were farmers and some were millers, blacksmiths, and tavern owners. Peasant farmers were the foundation of medieval society. They worked to their potential to become wealthier land holders in the nobility. The farmers produced the food and paid most of the taxes. Farmers had some feasts on holidays and sometimes attended church. Peasants lived in small towns or on a lord's manor. The average peasant lived in “a two room cottage that was constructed of mud plastered branches and straw or of stone and wood with a roof of thatch” (“Peasant”). The rooms had dirt floors, a table, and a chest to hold clothes in the common room. Sacks of straw served as beds for the entire family.

The women “spun wool into threads and wove cloth” that was used for their families (“Peasant”). Men wore tunics and long leggings, while the women wore long dresses of wool with stockings. The base for the cloth was usually a russet, so most of the clothing was a combination of browns, reds, and grays. Children were basically dressed as miniature adults. When it was cold, peasants wore sheepskin, cloaks, hats, and mittens to stay warm. Many peasants died during the winter months from the exposure to the weather. They ate “baked bread, porridge, stew, seasonal vegetables, and some meat” (“Peasant”). What they grew, was what they ate. For example, they grew crops of corn, beans, and wheat. Also, they had farms that provided lettuce, tomatoes, beans, carrots, and other vital vegetables. Peasants harvested acorns and berries nearby forests. If the weather was not nice enough to grow, peasant families had a very good chance of starving to