What was the primary role of serfs in feudal society?

The primary role of serfs in feudal society was to live on and farm a lord's land. Serfs were primarily agrarian peasants who were bound to the land owned by a lord and were required to work it, producing crops and providing labor in exchange for protection and the right to work a small portion of the land for their own subsistence. This relationship was foundational to the feudal system, where land ownership and agricultural production were central to economic and social structures.

Serfs did not have the freedom to leave the manor without permission from their lord, nor were they trained as knights, which made military service a role typically filled by the nobility. Additionally, while some trade occurred in medieval Europe, the management of trade routes was not a function of serfs; rather, it was often handled by merchants or traders who were typically free individuals. Thus, the choice highlighting the agricultural responsibilities of serfs accurately reflects their essential role in the feudal economy.