The Nature of Agriculture and Peasant Life

Question 1

What were the main problems faced?

Answer 1

People struggled to provide for their families.

Question 2

What was the difference between a Villein and a Freeman?

Answer 2

A Villein worked for the overlord while the Freeman only rented land from the overlord.

Question 3

What was the manorial estate?

Answer 3

Villages that surrounded a manor house in which the lord of the manor lived.

Question 4

What was the purpose of the reeve?

Answer 4

An official chosen from the villeins to supervise the farm work.

Question 5

How were the fields organised?

Answer 5

Into fallows and strips.

Question 6

What was the most profitable industry in the 13th century?

Answer 6

Wool.

Question 7

What role did animals play in the lives of peasants?

Answer 7

They could be used for produce or to graze the land.

Question 8

What was the main produce animals were used for?

Answer 8

Milk.

Question 9

What were two features of peasant housing? (2)

Answer 9

They were made of wooden strips woven together and plastered with manure.
They lived in one room with very little furniture.

Question 10

What were two features of peasant labour? (2)

Answer 10

They worked from dawn until dusk.

They used very basic equipment.

Question 11

Name a feature of life for peasant women?

Answer 11

Women had to take care of the house and family.

Question 12

Name a feature of life for peasant children?

Answer 12

Children didn’t go to school, when they were old enough they would go work with their father.

Question 13

What were two features of leisure time for peasants? (2)

Answer 13

They had days off for festivals, these were often Christian festivals.
Festivals included sports like wrestling and ale drinking competitions.

Question 14

Which two forms of employment could be found in towns? (2)

Answer 14

Traders and Farmers.

Question 15

What was the purpose of the town charter?

Answer 15

It granted freedom from the control of the local lord.

Question 16

What did London look like during the 13th century?

Answer 16

It was split into wards and each one had their own elected alderman, who took responsibility for it.

Question 17

What were the features of the town guilds? (2)

Answer 17

Tradesman had unrestricted rights to train in the town.

Members had to pay entrance fees and guarantee they would pay their taxes.

Question 18

Name the ways that towns played a role in the economy? (2)

Answer 18

Trade was controlled by tolls.

To have a market stall, traders had to pay a fee to town officials.

Question 19

What was a toll?

Answer 19

When money had to be paid on things that were bought and sold.

Question 20

Name the features of leisure time for people who lived in towns? (2)

Answer 20

They had fairs on important days in the Christian calendar.

Fairs included selling luxury goods but also sports like archery.