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# Medieval Life: Peasants and Knights ## Two Groups of Peasants During the Middle Ages, most Europeans were peasants, categorized as either freemen or serfs. * **Freemen** paid the noble for the right to farm the land and enjoyed legal rights. They could move freely. * **Serfs**, on the other...

# Medieval Life: Peasants and Knights ## Two Groups of Peasants During the Middle Ages, most Europeans were peasants, categorized as either freemen or serfs. * **Freemen** paid the noble for the right to farm the land and enjoyed legal rights. They could move freely. * **Serfs**, on the other hand, were tied to the manor. They couldn't own property, move, or marry without the noble's permission. While not enslaved, they were bound to the land and had to perform work for the noble. ## The Lives of the Peasants Peasants, both free and serf, lived in villages arranged around a village green. Their homes were simple cottages, with poorer peasants living in single-room dwellings. Their work was year-round: * **Winter/Spring:** Planting crops like beans, peas, barley, and oats. * **Summer:** Weeding fields and shearing sheep. * **Late Summer:** Harvesting grain and slaughtering livestock for winter storage. * **Year-round:** Tending small vegetable gardens ## The Castle and Knights **Castle Structure:** A typical medieval castle had two parts: the motte (a hill) and the bailey (open space beside the motte). The castle keep (central building) was built on the motte. The basement held tools and food, while ground floor had kitchens and stables. The great hall on the upper levels was used for court and guests. **Knights:** Knights trained for war through tournaments or the joust (a contest of skill). Nobles often left for war and their wives or daughters ran the estates. Castles were the central estate of the noble.