In the later Middle Ages, serfdom began to disappear west of the Rhine even as it spread through eastern Europe. Serfdom reached Eastern Europe centuries later than Western Europeit became dominant around the 15th century. In many of these countries serfdom was abolished during the Napoleonic invasions of the early 19th century, though in some it persisted until mid- or late- 19th century.
In the later Middle Ages serfdom began to disappear west of the Rhine even as it spread through eastern Europe Serfdom reached Eastern Europe centuries later than Western Europeit became dominant around the 15th century In many of these countries serfdom was abolished during the Napoleonic invasions of the early 19th century though in some it persisted until mid- or late- 19th century