Medieval LifeMedieval Life

A brief look at life in the Middle AgesA brief look at life in the Middle Ages

Miss K. Guppy

The Feudal and Manorial SystemsThe Feudal and Manorial Systems

The The feudal systemfeudal system refers to the refers to the system of system of government based on obligations between the government based on obligations between the lord or king and vassal (subordinate)lord or king and vassal (subordinate)

The The manorial systemmanorial system refers to the economic refers to the economic and social system of Medieval Europeand social system of Medieval Europe

Both concepts are linked, but feudalism Both concepts are linked, but feudalism connects to the connects to the militarymilitary and and political political leadershipleadership while manorialism connects to the while manorialism connects to the economyeconomy and and society.society.

Remember…Remember…

In the Middle In the Middle Ages the most Ages the most valuable valuable commodity of commodity of all was all was LANDLAND

The KingThe King The Feudal System was introduced by The Feudal System was introduced by

King William I after the Battle of King William I after the Battle of Hastings (1066) when he became King Hastings (1066) when he became King of England. of England.

William said that he owned all of the William said that he owned all of the land in England having killed many of land in England having killed many of the Saxon Earls and taken the land the Saxon Earls and taken the land from most of the others he had from most of the others he had defeated. defeated.

He gave large estates to the Norman He gave large estates to the Norman Barons who had supported him at Barons who had supported him at Hastings as a rewards for loyal service Hastings as a rewards for loyal service and also to keep them on his side in and also to keep them on his side in future. future.

The NoblesThe Nobles In return for their land from In return for their land from

the King each noble had to the King each noble had to provide trained knights for the provide trained knights for the army. This is how Kings since army. This is how Kings since William have raised their William have raised their armies. armies.

The Barons gave land The Barons gave land (Manors) to their Knights as a (Manors) to their Knights as a reward for service. They reward for service. They became Lord of the Manor.became Lord of the Manor.

The KnightsThe Knights In return for his land the Knight In return for his land the Knight

has to serve in the army for a has to serve in the army for a specified number of days per specified number of days per year (in the 12year (in the 12thth century this century this was around 40 days per year). was around 40 days per year).

Knights could control more Knights could control more than one Manor at a time.than one Manor at a time.

Knights did not spend all of Knights did not spend all of their time at the Manor – they their time at the Manor – they may be serving in the army or may be serving in the army or training other young knights – training other young knights – so their Steward and Bailiffs so their Steward and Bailiffs ran the farming of the estatesran the farming of the estates

The Villeins and FreemenThe Villeins and Freemen Villeins were not slaves, but they were Villeins were not slaves, but they were

not exactly free.not exactly free. They were permitted to live on the Manor in They were permitted to live on the Manor in

exchange for service to the Lord of the exchange for service to the Lord of the Manor.Manor.

They were not free to leave the Manor and They were not free to leave the Manor and could be brought back by force if they tried could be brought back by force if they tried to ‘escape’.to ‘escape’.

They were subject to a number of obligations They were subject to a number of obligations required by the lord:required by the lord:

Working on the demesne (the lord’s land), Working on the demesne (the lord’s land), additional work at harvest, payment of dues additional work at harvest, payment of dues and extra charges for priviledges for things and extra charges for priviledges for things like brewing ale or baking breadlike brewing ale or baking bread

Freemen were peasants that were not tied Freemen were peasants that were not tied to a Manor. Although they had greater to a Manor. Although they had greater freedoms they did not have the protection freedoms they did not have the protection the Manor provided.the Manor provided.

A Typical Medieval A Typical Medieval ManorManor Common Pasture was Common Pasture was

typically unfit for typically unfit for farmingfarming

The Lord’s land is The Lord’s land is sometimes called sometimes called demesnedemesne

Only very poor knights Only very poor knights had to work the own landhad to work the own land

Crop rotation was Crop rotation was typically practiced in typically practiced in Medieval Manor farmingMedieval Manor farming

Most Manor’s also had a Most Manor’s also had a Church and PriestChurch and Priest

ImagesImages

Manor House in Cornwall The ruins of the medieval castle at Pevensey (Sussex)

Church in Pevensey built 1068 Peasants

Village Life (As Commissioned by the Village Life (As Commissioned by the Nobility)Nobility)

What Every Village Needed…What Every Village Needed…

Fields to Fields to produce various produce various food cropsfood crops

Wood for fuel Wood for fuel and for buildingand for building

What Every Village Needed…What Every Village Needed… Access to stone Access to stone

(either a quarry or (either a quarry or by trading) for by trading) for buildingbuilding

Water for people, Water for people, animals, crops and animals, crops and as an energy as an energy source (especially source (especially for milling)for milling)

What Every Village Needed…What Every Village Needed…

Protection – being Protection – being close to a castleclose to a castle

OROR

Protection – being Protection – being on high ground so on high ground so you can see who is you can see who is comingcoming

Your task is to design a medieval village. This may be done as Your task is to design a medieval village. This may be done as eithereither::

An ink drawing similar to an architect’s sketch or town plan. This will include An ink drawing similar to an architect’s sketch or town plan. This will include an appropriate key and annotations.an appropriate key and annotations.

A colour diagram including appropriate annotations and/or key.A colour diagram including appropriate annotations and/or key.

You should assume that YOU are the Lord (or Lady) of the You should assume that YOU are the Lord (or Lady) of the Manor. Your village will need to include:Manor. Your village will need to include:

An appropriate setting (natural features of the land)An appropriate setting (natural features of the land) Appropriate relative size (does the Lord live in a Castle or a Manor House? Appropriate relative size (does the Lord live in a Castle or a Manor House?

How will this impact the size of his holdings?)How will this impact the size of his holdings?) All the natural resources required for the village to surviveAll the natural resources required for the village to survive Appropriate living/business spaces – village housing, market spaces, businesses, Appropriate living/business spaces – village housing, market spaces, businesses,

church etc.church etc. A name for your villageA name for your village A title and a name for the Lord and/or Lady of the ManorA title and a name for the Lord and/or Lady of the Manor

Be prepared to describe your village’s features and justify your Be prepared to describe your village’s features and justify your design to the teacher.design to the teacher.

Assignment: Design Your Own VillageAssignment: Design Your Own Village