How does the manor economy work

The manor formed the basic unit of feudal society, and the lord of a manor and his serfs were bound legally, economically, and socially. Serfs formed the lowest class of feudal society. A serf digging the land, c. Many of the negative components of manorialism, and feudalism in general, revolve around the bondage of the serf, his lack of social mobility, and his low position on the social hierarchy.

However, a serf had some freedoms within his constraints. A well-to-do serf might even be able to buy his freedom. The surplus crops he would sell at market. The landlord could not dispossess his serfs without legal cause, was supposed to protect them from the depredations of robbers or other lords, and was expected to support them by charity in times of famine.

Many such rights were enforceable by the serf in the manorial court. A villein or villain was the most common type of serf in the Middle Ages. Villeins had more rights and a higher status than the lowest serf, but existed under a number of legal restrictions that differentiated them from freemen.

Villeins generally rented small homes with or without land. Contrary to popular belief, the requirement was not often greatly onerous, and was often only seasonal, as was the duty to help at harvest-time, for example. Like other types of serfs, villeins were required to provide other services, possibly in addition to paying rent of money or produce. Villeins were generally able to hold their own property, unlike slaves. Villeinage was not a purely uni-directional exploitative relationship.

Landlords, even where legally entitled to do so, rarely evicted villeins, because of the value of their labour. Villeinage was preferable to being a vagabond, a slave, or an un-landed laborer. In many medieval countries, a villein could gain freedom by escaping from a manor to a city or borough and living there for more than a year, but this action involved the loss of land rights and agricultural livelihood, a prohibitive price unless the landlord was especially tyrannical or conditions in the village were unusually difficult.

In the foreground, a farmer plowing a field with a plow pulled by two oxen; man the leader with a long pole. Winemakers prune the vine in a pen and till the soil with a hoe to aerate the soil. On the right, a man leans on a bag, presumably to draw seeds that he will then sow.

Finally, in the background, a shepherd takes the dog that keeps his flock. In the background is the castle of Lusignan Poitou , property of the Duke of Berry.

Seen on the right of the picture, above the tower Poitiers, is a winged dragon representing the fairy Melusine. Skip to main content. Search for:. The Manor System Learning Objective Illustrate the hierarchy of the manor system by describing the roles of lords, villeins, and serfs. Dependent lands were worked by tenants, known as serfs or villeins, in a subsistence farming system specifically for the economic benefit of the lord.

Often these tenancies were hereditary, so several generations of a single family could live on and work the same fields for decades. In return, the serf family was legally obligated to supply the lord with agreed-upon goods or services. Finally, free peasant land was less common, but still found in some smaller holdings; this was land cultivated and rented by peasants who were free, unlike their serf neighbors, but still fell under the jurisdiction of the manor house.

Serfs and villeins were generally not free, but they were also not enslaved people. They and their families were contractually obligated to the lord of the manor. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica , the villein:. From legal standpoint, the manor court was at the center of the justice system , and handled cases both civil and criminal. Minor offenses such as theft, assault, and other petty accusations were handled as disputes between tenants. Offenses against the manor were considered more serious, because they disrupted the social order.

A serf or villein who was accused of things like poaching or taking timber from the lord's forests without permission might be treated more severely. Large-scale criminal offenses were remanded over to the king or his representative in a larger court. When it came to civil cases, nearly all manor court activity was related to the land. Contracts, tenancy, dowries, and other legal disputes were the predominant business of the manor court.

In many cases, the lord himself was not the person passing judgment; often the steward or seneschal took on these duties, or a jury of twelve elected men would reach a decision together. As Europe began to shift towards a more commerce-based market, rather than one that relied on the land as capital, the manorial system started to decline.

Peasants could earn money for their goods and services, and the expanding urban population created a demand for produce and timber in the cities. Subsequently, people became more mobile, often relocated to where the work was, and were able to buy their freedom from the lord of the manor. Lords eventually found that it was to their advantage to allow free tenants to rent land and pay for the privilege; these tenants were far more productive and profitable than those who held property as serfs.

By the 17th century, most areas that had previously relied on the manorial system had instead switched over to a money-based economy. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.

Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. Patti Wigington. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Updated August 14, Did You Know? Early medieval manors were the hub of social, political, and legal activity.

The lord of the manor had the final say in all matters, and his serfs or villeins were contractually obligated to provide goods and services. The manorial system eventually died out as Europe moved into a money-based economy. Featured Video.

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