Manorial System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the Manorial System?

A political system in the Middle Ages

An economic system built around large estates called manors (correct)

A religious doctrine

A social class structure

What were manors?

Large estates that included a village and the land surrounding it.

Serfs were allowed to leave the manor without the lord's permission.

False

What characterized the life of a serf?

They rarely left the manor and worked long days. Signup and view all the answers

What did peasants pay for the privilege of living on the lord's land?

Tax on all grain ground in the lord's mill Signup and view all the answers

Who were freemen?

Skilled workers who paid rent to nobles and could leave the manor. Signup and view all the answers

Peasants could bake bread anywhere without punishment.

False Signup and view all the answers

A tithe represented one-tenth of a peasant's _____ .

income Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Manorial System Overview

An economic structure prevalent during the Middle Ages centered around large estates called manors.
Manorial estates consist of a village and the surrounding agricultural land.

Manors

Functioned as self-sufficient units where the majority of daily necessities were produced internally.
Residents relied on the manor for food, shelter, and various goods.

Serfs

Peasants bound to lords' land, working the fields as part of the feudal system.
Restricted freedom: could not leave the manor or marry without the lord's permission.
In exchange for labor, serfs were allowed to farm a portion of land for their sustenance.
Lords were obligated to protect the serfs in return for their work.

Life of a Serf

Serfs rarely left the manor, requiring permission for any travel.
Life involved strenuous labor, including long hours working in the lord's fields as well as their own.
Daily existence was characterized by hardship and limited personal freedom.

Harshness of Manor Life

Peasants paid significant dues for the privilege of residing on the lord's land.
Taxes included a fee on all grain processed in the lord's mill; attempting to grind elsewhere was deemed illegal.
Weddings required the lord's consent, resulting in a tax for marriages.
Peasant families were also expected to pay a tithe, or church tax, amounting to one-tenth of their income.

Freemen

Skilled laborers who paid rent to nobles, enjoying the freedom to leave the manor.
Examples of freemen include tradespeople such as blacksmiths and millers.

Description

Test your knowledge on the Manorial System with these flashcards. Explore key concepts like manors and serfs during the Middle Ages. Perfect for students studying medieval history or the economic systems of that era.