The corvée was a system of labor that was historically used in various societies, particularly in France before the Revolution. It required peasants to provide a certain amount of unpaid labor for the state or lord, usually in the form of road construction, maintenance, or other public works.
This system was often seen as an obligation of the lower classes to serve the needs of the ruling classes. The work was usually required for a limited period each year, and while it helped to develop infrastructure, it also placed a heavy burden on the peasants, who were already working on their own lands.
The corvée exemplified the feudal system’s hierarchical structure and the exploitation of the lower classes. Ultimately, it contributed to social tensions and discontent, which were part of the larger context leading to significant political changes, including the French Revolution.