and in some places that was mandatory -- the Corvée system, or similar, were commonly implemented. essentially you owed the local lord a fixed number of days o

and in some places that was mandatory -- the Corvée system, or similar, were commonly implemented. essentially you owed the local lord a fixed number of days of work, and/or a tax; days could be traded for tax and vice-versa. usually things like clearing, roads, and bridge building, etc.