A social and economic system under the feudal system, whereby peasants owed their lord labour, theoretically in return for protection.
Serfdom
Fact of the Day
In France around the year 1000, a pale complexion, squeamishness and vegetarianism were all signs of heresy.
Quote of the Day
"Were this the skeleton of the oldest man, then the oldest man was a freak
"
~ Mayer on the Neanderthal, 1864.
On This Day
1586 American colonists arrived in Plymouth with large quantities of tobacco. Smoking caught on quickly, though it was also used in tea.
1694 The Bank of England was founded by an act of parliament as a way to finance government debt by private subscription.
1943 The concentrated Allied bombing of Hamburg led to a three hour firestorm that killed approx 30,000 civilians.