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Almost. It derives from robota serf or corvee labour. While either of those are certainly slave like, they are distinct from chattel slavery (which is what most
by icegreentea 13y ago
Almost. It derives from robota serf or corvee labour. While either of those are certainly slave like, they are distinct from chattel slavery (which is what most people think of when you say slave). The key difference is that chattel slavery has the slaves as actual property. Serfdom implies a responsibility from the master to the serf, beyond that implied by chattel slavery. Corvee labour is essentially a tax in the form of labour.
- sdegutis 13y agoI initially thought this was just going to be another pedantic argument but it turned out to be really interesting. So, thanks?