Early Medieval Life
I. Disintegration of
the
Carolingian Empire
A.
Internel
problems
B.
External
threats
Muslims
Vikings
population growth, shortage of land
the Danelaw, the Rus, Normandy,
Iceland, Greenland, Vinland
II. The Emergence of
Feudalism
vassals
- homage - services
fiefs
Feudalism
Those
Who Fight
III. The Manorial
System
estate located on fief
Read Manorialism
Manioralism
A.
manors based on Roman latifundia
B.
controlled by Roman patrons or
German lords
C.
worked by peasants, serfs
serfs restricted
D.The
Medieval Manor composed of village,
church, manor house,
i. farm lands, lord's demesne,
commons, forest, mill, oven
ii. village consisted of 20 to 50 families
The
Medieval Village
Peasant
Houses --
Peasant
Houses
Manor
House at Chingford, Essex
II. Land
Those
Who Work
A.
land divided into lord's demesne --
roughly 1/4 - 1/3 of farm land
-- worked by peasants / serfs
B.
fields divided into strips -- two field system
Agriculture
C.
meadow & woods shared for grazing,
firewood
D.
villagers divided fields into strips
III. Farming
A.
simple tools
B.
shared work, draft animals
C.
low yields
D.
two fields, later three -- rotated fields
Medieval
Technology Timeline
The
Great Harness Controversy
IV. Administration --
Manoral
Management & Organization
A.
Steward ran manor
B.
Bailiff supervised peasants, lord's land
C.
Reeve elected foreman
V. Manoral Economy
A.
provided lord with income -- crops, services,
monopolies
B.
peasants worked lord's land 2 to 3 days a
week
C.
peasants paid taille, fees for use of mills,
ovens, wine press
D.
few free peasants, serfs bound to land
VI. Life of Peasants
Medieval
Society and Culture
A.
suffered from malnutrition, disease,
occassional wars
B.
homes simple, built of available materials
C.
little free time, Sunday & holy days
Medieval
Glossary / Glossary
Population
Estimates
Grantchester: A Medieval English Village
Guilds and Commerce
