Took this picture late afternoon May 16, 2025. It was at the end of a long rain
sequence and, for the first time, I saw leaves coming in...A unique green I have not seen
since...
!HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEN!
Middle Ages; did the phenomenon of serfhood develop only in France, or did it appear in the British Isles as well?
Serfdom was not exclusive to France—it was a widespread phenomenon across medieval Europe, including the British Isles. In both regions, serfs were bound to the land they worked, unable to leave without their lord’s permission. They provided labor in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate land.
In England, serfdom was deeply tied to the feudal system introduced by the Normans after 1066. English serfs, often called villeins, were required to work on their lord’s land and pay various dues. Over time, economic changes, including the Black Death, contributed to the decline of serfdom in England, as labor shortages gave peasants more bargaining power.
Would you like to explore how serfdom evolved differently in various parts of Europe?
But serfdom developed in France at the Fall of Rome. What happened in England at that time?
At the fall of Rome, England was undergoing a major transformation. Roman rule in Britain ended around 410 CE, when Emperor Honorius refused to send military assistance to the province. This left Britain vulnerable to invasions by the Saxons, Picts, and Scots, leading to a collapse of urban life and the rise of local warlords.
Unlike France, where serfdom developed early as a response to the breakdown of Roman authority, England saw a different trajectory. The withdrawal of Roman forces led to a period of instability, but serfdom as a formal institution did not immediately take hold. Instead, Anglo-Saxon society developed a system of land-based obligations, where peasants worked for local lords in exchange for protection. It wasn’t until the Norman Conquest in 1066 that serfdom became more structured in England, resembling the feudal system seen in France.
Would you like to explore how the Norman Conquest reshaped England’s social structure?
What happened in Scotland and Ireland in those early times?
Scotland and Ireland had distinct experiences during the fall of Rome.
Scotland: The Romans never fully conquered Scotland, which was known as Caledonia at the time. They attempted several invasions, including campaigns led by Gnaeus Julius Agricola in the late 1st century CE, but the fierce resistance of the Caledonian tribes prevented lasting Roman control. The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall (122 CE) and later the Antonine Wall (142 CE) to mark their northern frontier, but they eventually withdrew from Scotland altogether. After Rome’s decline, Scotland remained a land of independent tribes, including the Picts, who would later play a key role in shaping medieval Scotland.
Ireland: Unlike Britain, Ireland was never part of the Roman Empire. However, Roman traders and missionaries did interact with the island. The Irish were organized into tribal kingdoms, and their society was dominated by warrior elites and druids. The fall of Rome had little direct impact on Ireland, but in the following centuries, Irish raiders—known as Scoti—frequently attacked Roman Britain. Eventually, Irish influence spread to western Scotland, leading to the formation of the Kingdom of Dal Riata, which played a crucial role in early Scottish history.
Would you like to explore how these regions evolved after Rome’s decline?
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