ABSTRACT
The institution of the “ colonate ” proved profitable both to the peasant and the landlord. To the first it secured, if not the ownership, the possession for his life, and, in practice, for the life of his children, of a farm of an average area of from 12 to 15 hectares ; custom did not allow the rent or the services incumbent upon him to be increased. To the second it secured, if not large rents, considerable services and unpaid labour. The institution was considered so profitable that it was extended to slaves (mancipia, servi). It is to be noted however that in the Roman districts the tenures of coloni continued to preponderate vastly numerically. In the German districts on the other hand, the tenures of serfs and of “ lidi ” were in a larger proportion. The servile tenure owed more frequent services, half the week (three out of six working days) being devoted to the master’s land.
