> funny enough medieval serfs got their house for free and were only charged a fixed portion of their harvest to stay on their plot of land.  usually a family entered serfdom due to a bad harvest or financial problems. they weren't given a house, it was the house and plot of land their family had already owned. it was more like the medieval equivalent of getting a reverse mortgage or heloc. they swore an oath of fealty to the lord in order to go under his financial/military protection. they gave up their ownership rights to the land or house and everything else, and swore to do a certain amount of work for the lord. they were required to work first and foremost for the lord, harvesting his crops and doing chores around his manor. then, they were allowed to subsistence farm on their plot of land. they were also usually required to pay a tax to the lord of the best share of the crops they farmed on their land, or something like that.  if you were lucky enough to have a good lord, they would make sure you didn't starve to death because they wouldn't want their workers dying. but there was no guarantee of that. and once your family had taken the oath of fealty, all of your children and descendants would have no choice, they would be automatically born into serfdom. > they got married when they were 17 and didnt need any money for that either sure, if you can convince one of the other serfs to give his 17 year old daughter to you in marriage. you would also be required to get the blessing of the lord to go through with the marriage. obviously, the lord of the manor didn't just give you a girl to marry, don't be retarded.
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