Land, Economy, & Rural Life

Question 1

what are the societal 3 orders?

Answer 1

1. those who fight (kings, nobles, & knights)
2. those who pray (priests & monks)
3. those who work (peasants)

peasants = rural agricultural workers

Question 2

work varied by what 4 regions?

Answer 2

1. Mediterranean: vines & olives
2. Northern fertile plain (Russia to England): grain
3. Hilly lands: herding & wool production
4. Coastal: fishing

NFP = rich & fertile land; soil is wet & heavy

Question 3

what are the 3 types of peasants

Answer 3

1. free
2. cotter
3. serfs (villeins)

Question 4

what are cotters?

Answer 4

• have only one house/cottage & garden
• landless labourers
• do wage work

Question 5

what are
free peasants?

Answer 5

owe only rent

Question 6

what are serfs/villeins

the majority

Answer 6

• people of unfree status bound to the lord & land
• farmed their own strips of land

could profit off their work

Question 7

what were manorial courts?

Answer 7

• inforced the rights of lords
• jurors presented evidence for serfs

Question 8

what were the main reasons for population growth?

Answer 8

• decline of invasions
• climate change (medieval climate anomaly)
• inc. trade improved diet
• agricultural productivity improved
• women living longer (less likely to die in childbirth)

women’s life rates speculated to have been the result of improved diets (iron)

Question 9

what were some advancements in technology?

Answer 9

• heavy wheeled ploughs
• scythe & pitchfork
• padded horse collars & horseshoes
• three crop rotation
• water & windmills