Final answer:
A small land owner who paid taxes to nobles was known as a villein or serf in medieval society.
Step-by-step explanation:
A small land owner who paid taxes to nobles was known as a villein or serf in medieval society. These individuals were peasants who worked on the land owned by nobles and were required to pay rent and perform various labor services in exchange for their use of the land. They had limited rights and were often bound to the land and subject to the lord's control.
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