Henry's Discourse on Manorialism Quiz

Answer: Manor

Manorialism had its beginnings at the end of the Roman empire. As Germanic tribes invaded, smaller landowners turned their estates over to nobles or the church in exchange for protection and a part of the crops they raised. In our day the system of feudalism governs and protects the land; the system of manorialism describes how a living is made off the land.

The manor consists of everything that is part of the land grant, including the manor house (ours is a castle!), peasant village, church, pasture, forest, and outer lands; the typical size of a manor is 2,000-3,000 acres. Of course, my lord, the Earl of Warwick controls more land, but he is one of a few higher ranking nobles.

Answer: Lord

The lord plays an important role in both feudalism and manorialism. As he protects and governs us, he also feeds us and takes care of our other needs. Everything on the estate belongs to him - even the fish in the lake - but as our lord he "shares" with us in exchange for some sort of service.

The peasants are expected to farm the lord's land and also pay dues of crops that are farmed on their own portion of land.

Answer: Serfs

Serfs and their descendants are bound to the land and must serve the lord. They are not slaves, but they really cannot do anything but work without the lord's permission. They are part of the estate and are not allowed to leave the fief (except with the permission of the lord).

In addition, they are not paid for the work they do for the lord. Instead they are given strips of land with which to grow their own crops, part of which must be returned to the lord as dues or rent. Some of the strips are in good soil, some are in poor soil. An attempt is made to try and divide the land equally.

Answer: 90%

At the end of the Roman empire, strict control was placed over middle class families so that the emperor could expect to collect the same rate of taxes over a long period of time. A caste system was instituted, whereby sons had to follow in their father's occupation. That is what has led us to where we are now as far as social classes. We do not have a middle class on the manor.

However, in towns and cities there are more and more joining that class who are merchants or master craftsmen. Of course, the knights are nobles, and the higher ranking members of the clergy, like bishops and abbots, are as well.

The peasants are the lowest class.* They are the ones who work the land, so that the rest of us can pray and fight. While their main occupation may be agriculture, they are also shepherds, swineherds, weavers, bakers, and serve as other skilled artisans.

Answer: Demesne

The demesne is all of the land, both arable and not, that is directly under the lord's control. Some of the land, called the lord's waste, is used for roads and pastures for both the lord and his peasants. Part of the land is kept in forests, so that we can hunt and gather firewood. Of course, the arable land is used for farming. Because nearly all our food is produced on and by the manor, it is important to use the land wisely, and preserve food for the long winter and any emergencies that might arise.

Answer: Three-field system

The arable land that is to be farmed is divided into three large fields, and each field is subdivided into many long, narrow strips. While the lord may call the best farmland his own, each peasant has a strip of land in each one of these three fields.

In the fall, one of the fields is planted with wheat, rye, or some other grain. Another field is left for pasture, and the third field is left fallow. We do this because if the same field is planted the same way year after year, it becomes unproductive.

Answer: False

Although it varies from place to place, as a rule the peasant is expected to work on the lord's demesne at least three days a week. The remainder of the time he can work his own land. However, at harvest time he may be expected to work more for the lord.

A portion of the peasant's harvest is also allocated to the lord. In addition, if they use the lord's mill they generally must leave some of the grain as payment; if they use the lord's baking oven, they must leave bread as payment. While it is true that we eat better at the lord's table than the peasants eat at their own, my lord, the Earl of Warwick, always makes sure that they have enough to eat.

He recognizes that their service is invaluable as they do all the labor on his estate. Why don't we help? It is not our station. Our station is to protect the land and the people who live on it!

Answer: Any of these are used, depending on the season and necessary work.

Unfortunately the implements used by our peasants haven't change much in hundreds of years. Tools are made by hand and edges are sharpened with iron. Farming is back breaking work, and the peasants are always busy. Although they may keep a few animals, most of them do not have enough surplus food to feed large animals or large numbers, so all of the labor is done manually.

It is important for them to work hard enough for all of us to have food that lasts from harvest to harvest.

Answer: Wattle and daub

The wattle and daub technique, as shown by the gate in the picture, employs the use of flexible woven wood called "wattle", and dirt, dung, or clay called "daub" that is used to seal up the cracks. The peasants live in these huts that have a dirt floor. Usually they try to avoid making a fire inside the hut because with one window and only an small air vent in the roof, it becomes very smokey. With roofs that are thatched with straw, the one-room hut is the living quarters for not only the family, but also any animals they might be lucky enough to own.

The animals help with heating in the winter, and bringing them in at night assures their safety. They are too valuable to allow to roam, and we cannot afford to lose any of the estate's assets.

Answer: True

The peasants live outside the protective wall of the castle, however, it is understood that if the castle is under attack, they can come inside the wall for the lord's protection. If the lord allows anything to happen to his peasants, he is really losing one of his most valuable assets. Likewise, the lord offers the peasants security in case of crop failure or famine.

It wouldn't do to let the serfs go sick or hungry. My lord, the Earl of Warwick says that it is our station in life to protect them. What would we nobles do without the serfs?