In the thirteenth century, the rural societies of the Byzantine empire and the Islamic countries apparently underwent less obvious transformations than those in the west. For some historians, the increase in the rural population brought only misery to the villages, accompanied by a widespread decrease in landholding. Rural societies were strongly aware of the need to defend their cohesive character, and this was something that had to be maintained at all costs, despite the tensions which already existed or were about to erupt in these village micro-societies. The decline of serfdom is very noticeable in numerous areas in the west, but it can now be seen that the thirteenth century did not see the end of serfdom. Social transformation was more profound and happened much faster in those rural regions rendered prosperous through the widespread sale of rural products. In the thirteenth century, the number of areas under the jurisdiction of a single seigneurie became rare in the overpopulated regions.