What is the term for the enforced legal ownership of individuals?

The term for the enforced legal ownership of individuals is slavery. This institution is characterized by a system where people are considered property and can be bought, sold, and exploited against their will. Slavery has historically involved the complete control of one individual by another, stripping the enslaved person of their freedoms and rights.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately capture the essence of enforced ownership. Feudalism refers to a social and economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, where land is owned by lords who grant portions of it to vassals in exchange for military service and labor, but it does not imply ownership of individuals in the same manner as slavery. Servitude generally refers to a condition of being subject to someone else's authority and may involve various forms of labor contracts or obligations, but again, it does not equate to the legal ownership associated with slavery. Voluntary labor indicates a situation in which individuals choose to work in exchange for compensation, having the freedom to decline or leave, in stark contrast to the lack of autonomy experienced by those who are enslaved.