What role did serfs typically play in the feudal system?

In the feudal system, serfs played a crucial role as the agricultural labor force. They were generally bound to the land and worked on the estates owned by lords. This relationship was fundamental to the economy during the Middle Ages, as serfs provided the necessary labor to cultivate crops and maintain the land that supported both themselves and the feudal lords. Unlike free laborers, serfs had limited rights and could not leave the land without the lord's permission, which emphasized their status as part of the agricultural system.

The other roles mentioned in the options do not align with the serfs' actual position in society. For instance, serving as lords or landowners would contradict the very nature of serfdom, and being the highest social class is contrary to the hierarchical structure of feudalism, where serfs were situated at the bottom. Additionally, governing towns and cities fell under the responsibilities of the nobility and merchant class, rather than serfs, who were primarily focused on agricultural labor. Thus, the identification of serfs as workers on the land owned by lords accurately captures their function within the feudal system.