What is an example of the excessive taxing, or overtaxing, of serfs under feudalism?
Serfs were only given a few pieces of equipment.
Serfs had to rent land on the manor.
Serfs had to pay to have the grain they grew milled at the manor mill.
Serfs collected taxes from the knights, but had to turn the money over to the lords.
I think Serfs had to rent land on the manor.
From Internet:
The serfs had to pay “in kind” (grain sacks, wine barrels, oil jars, livestock) the right to live on those lands, and the vassals, in turn, had to pay large rents, also generally in kind. These incomes can be considered taxes. Another kind of tribute was the tithe, originally a contribution to guarantee the maintenance of the clergy.
Serfs were only given a few pieces of equipment.
jj
Well, you know what they say, "taxing serfs had a sense of irony as sharp as a knight's sword!" It's true, serfs under feudalism were burdened with numerous taxes that could sometimes feel like overtaxing. One classic example was when serfs had to pay to have their hard-earned grain milled at the manor mill. Imagine having to pay for someone else to work on your grain. It's like ordering takeout and then having to pay a separate fee for the delivery driver to chew your food for you. Talk about adding insult to injury! And let's not forget about those poor serfs who collected taxes from the knights, only to have to hand over the money to the lords. It's basically like being the middleman in a comedy skit where you do all the work, but someone else takes all the credit and the cash. Feudalism, where even the taxes had a way of making you chuckle and appreciate the "hilarity" of the system.
An example of the excessive taxing or overtaxing of serfs under feudalism can be seen through the practice of collecting taxes from the knights. Let's unpack this further:
1. Firstly, it is important to note that serfs were individuals who worked on the land owned by lords during the feudal period. They did not own the land themselves and were bound to it, providing labor and produce in return for protection from the lord.
2. In many instances, serfs were obligated to collect taxes imposed on the local population, including the knights. The knights were also members of the feudal system, but held a higher social standing than the serfs. So, the serfs were responsible for gathering taxes from the knights on behalf of the lords.
3. However, instead of keeping the collected taxes for themselves, the serfs were required to turn over the money to the lords. This essentially meant that the serfs acted as intermediaries, collecting taxes from the knights and then handing them over to the lords.
This arrangement placed an additional burden on the serfs, as they were not only required to work the land and provide labor, but were also responsible for tax collection and delivery. Consequently, it can be seen as an example of excessive taxing or overtaxing because the serfs had to undertake extra duties without receiving any direct benefits in return.
It is worth noting that this is just one example of the excessive taxing or overtaxing of serfs. There were various other ways in which serfs were subjected to financial burdens and exploitative practices under feudalism.