Slavery makes slave owners rich. Yes. The Russian Empire was far behind Western Europe in terms of economic development. People still used the wooden plow in t

Slavery makes slave owners rich. Yes. The Russian Empire was far behind Western Europe in terms of economic development. People still used the wooden plow in the beginning of the 20th century. Something like 80 or 90 percent of the population still lived in villages. I not really sure what point you are making. I mean no one is going argue that the Russian model of serfdom was a good idea? > The idea that serfs somehow worked harder because "they got to keep some of what they produced" is just pure fantasy. Serfs had to work hard because a lot of the time they were on the verge of starvation. Slaves are fed regardless of much or little they produce so you are saying serfs they had a pretty big incentive to work harder. Well case in point.