Serfdom
By the 13th and 14th centuries, serfdom was becoming less common in Western Europe.  The manorial system weakened as powerful monarchs took control, towns developed, and the economy improved.  At the same time, there were more protests by serfs and peasants, like Wat Tyler’s Rebellion in England in 1381.  This put pressure on the nobility and the clergy to change the system and make improvements.  New ways of renting the land gave people more freedom.