Serfdom was a system of agricultural labor prevalent in medieval Europe, where peasants, known as serfs, were bound to the land they worked on. Unlike slaves, serfs were not owned by a master but were tied to a specific estate, providing labor in exchange for protection and the right to work a portion of the land for their own subsistence. Under this system, serfs had limited rights and could not leave the estate without permission from their lords. Serfdom was a key component of the feudal system, which structured society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service and loyalty.