Final answer:
Peasants in the feudal system were serfs with very low social status and limited rights, but their conditions improved after the Black Plague due to labor scarcity which resulted in better wages and living conditions, contributing to the decline of serfdom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Status of Peasants in the Feudal System
Within the feudal system, peasants, predominantly in the form of serfs, occupied the lowest social status. They were bound to the land and subject to the authority of local lords or manorial lords. In this system, often referred to as manorialism, serfs were required to work the land, provide goods and services to the lord, and could not marry, move, or work elsewhere without the lord’s permission. Despite being the backbone of agricultural labor and forming the vast majority of the population, serfs had very few rights and could be physically abused by the lords.
However, the Black Plague led to a drastic reduction in the population, resulting in serfs having access to more land and resources. The decreased population also meant that there were fewer peasants to work the lands, which allowed them to demand better wages and living conditions, a key factor that gradually eroded serfdom in Western Europe. Despite attempts by monarchs to legislate peasant status, the scarcity of labor post-Plague improved peasants' leverage to negotiate conditions, leading to the eventual disappearance of serfdom as an institution.
The agrarian society dictated a life rhythm based on the seasons, where the entire community's survival depended on the agricultural yield. The feudal system was hierarchical, and although it provided peasants with protection and sustenance, it heavily favored the lords and nobility who extracted wealth from peasant labor.