Rural medieval England

Question 1

There were usually __ crop fields in a village, one of which was left __ (unfarmed) for 1-2 years to let it recover. Each field grew one crop and was divided into strips.

Answer 1

1) Three
2) Fallow

Question 2

What four types of crop were typically farmed in villages?

Answer 2

Wheat, barley, rye and oats.

Question 3

Who worked the land in villages?

Answer 3

Peasants: mostly villeins (men, women and children); cottars helped at lot more at harvest time. Some freemen did, but were paid for it as they were not owned by the overlord.

Question 4

Did farming the land provide stability to the village’s population?

Answer 4

No; even though peasants worked dawn to dusk, yields were often low, leading to food shortages and sometimes famine.

Question 5

Why were animals kept in villages?

Answer 5

For food and textiles, which could be traded in towns.

Question 6

What did all peasants have to pay to do?

Answer 6

Use the village mill, to grind crops, and the ovens, to bake bread.

Question 7

What type of houses did villeins live in?

Answer 7

Thatched cruck houses with wattle-and-daub walls.

Question 8

What type of houses did cottars live in?

Answer 8

Cottages.

Question 9

What were all villagers expected to do on Sundays, the only day off?

Answer 9

Go to church.

Question 10

Villeins and cottars were owned by the lord of the estate, so had to […] in return for […]. Freemen were paid to work the land, but had to […].

Answer 10

1) Work the land for no money
2) Being given land to feed their families.
3) Pay rent for the land they lived on.

Question 11

Give 2 features of village life.

Answer 11

1) Villeins and cottars were owned by the landlord, and had to work the land for no money in return for the land they used to feed their families.
2) Freemen did not have to work the land, but had to pay tax for living on the land.
3) Villeins lived in thatched cruck wattle-and-daub houses, whereas cottars lived in cottages.
4) Animals were kept in villages, for food and textiles that could be traded in towns.
5) Villeins had to do “week-work”, working all week, whereas cottars only had to work a few days (“boon work”). They helped more during harvest time.
6) Each village typically had 3 fields, divided into strips. A field was always left fallow for 1-2 years to allow it to recover. Typical crops were wheat, barley, rye and oats.
7) All villagers were expected to attend Church on Sundays.
8) Farming did not always provide stability to the village’s population; bad yields lead to shortages and sometimes famine.
9) Villagers had to pay to use the mill and ovens.