History
feudalism
rulers
owned land which was divided among lords and nobles in return for loyalty and taxes.
The Middle Ages began after the fall of the Roman Empire
Most people lived in the countryside with the peasants making up most of the population.
They
lived in manors (villages) which were owned by a lord or a knight.
manors
houses
church
manor house
mill
forge
a bailiff’s
house
.A bailiff was the man responsible for keeping law and order, as well as collecting taxes
lords home
medieval farming
open field system for farming
This was diving three large fields into long
strips with each peasant family farming particular strips in each field.
Crop rotation
field one could be wheat, field two could be oats while the third
field was left fallow (left empty to regain nutrients).
A fourth field, the commons
used for grazing farm animals such as cattle and sheep.
peasants
Freemen
had to pay rent to the lord of the manor as well as paying a tithe (tax of 1/10 of their
income) to the church.
Sherfs
belonged to the lord but were a step up from slaves. They farmed the lord’s land six days
a week for which they received a small plot of land to build a house on.
lived in wattle-and-daub houses with thatched roofs and one room; their animals were
brought in at night. Clothes were made of wool or linen and dyed with berry juice.
Their diets consisted of bread, cheese and pottage – eating meat was rare.
Serfs were given Sundays and saints’ days off.