Characteristics Of Manorialism

Manorialism was the economic system of land ownership in the Middle Ages. Manorialism had many defining characteristics, such as manors and land ownership. Manorialism was the economic system in the Middle Ages. It relied on land and land ownership. Land was the major form of wealth in the Middle Ages, as if someone had land, they could sell it to others to work on in exchange for a portion of their products and military service (this obligation was mutual). (Nardo 14) A manor was the community built on the fief that a lord gave to a vassal. The manor was similar in size to a small village, and the manor house was the main structure on it. The lord and lady, as well as some others such as the bailiff and servants, lived and worked in it. It was fortified for protection, but not so much that it could hold off long sieges. (Frey 1) Surrounding the manor house were the houses and buildings of peasants, as well as a wall used for protection. (Frey 1) The manor was self-sustaining, meaning that it grew or produced everything necessary for it’s survival. An outside product was rarely necessary. The manor works this way because of the peasants who worked on it, many with a specialized profession such as a blacksmith or carpenter, who produced for it. The carpenter would make wood for housing, the blacksmith would make tools, the farmers would produce food, and so on. All manors had some of the same structures; The manor house, a mill, a brewer’s shop, a carpenter’s shop, a