VI. Social Mobility: Climbing the Ladder

Paths Upward:

1. Military Glory:

• Exceptional warrior → join Druzhina → become Boyar
• Rare but possible

2. Wealth:

• Successful merchant → buy land → Boyar status
• More common in cities (Novgorod, Kiev)

3. Marriage:

• Marry into higher class
• Daughter of Smerd marries lesser Boyar
• Slow climb over generations

4. Royal Favor:

• Service to Knyaz rewarded with land/title
• Dangerous (court intrigue)

Paths Downward:

1. Debt:

• Failed harvest → loans → debt slavery
• Most common

2. Crime:

• Major theft/murder → enslavement or exile

3. War:

• Losing side = slaves
• Captured = ransom or slavery

4. Inheritance:

• Too many sons = divided land = poverty