Oborci

Oborci is a term predominantly used in parts of the Balkans, specifically in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It historically referred to a system of serfdom or dependent peasantry. Oborci were essentially peasants who were bound to the land and obligated to provide labor and/or a portion of their harvest to a landlord or feudal lord.

The term highlights the relationship of economic and personal dependence between the peasant and the landowner. While variations existed across different regions and time periods, the common thread was the limited freedom and economic autonomy of the oborci. They were not outright slaves, but their movement and economic activities were restricted by their obligations to the landowner.

The oborci system gradually declined with the weakening of feudal structures and the rise of modern economic systems. Reforms implemented during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly those related to land ownership and peasant rights, ultimately led to its dismantling. The term is now primarily used in a historical context to describe this specific form of serfdom in the Balkan region.