Pros And Cons Of Manorialism

Manorialism was a very important system that also supported feudalism. On the manor, serfs, making up the lowest class, had specific jobs they had to fulfill to continue living on the lord’s estate. All peasants whether serf or freemen were the subjects and employees of the lord (A. Smith 8). Serfs, also known as villeins, lived hard lives (Nardo 25). In many situations, they were forced to put the lord’s things first and own things second (Bennett 99). They spent much of their time working in the fields (Bennett 99). While they did make certain money payments, the obligation to work was more important (Bennett 102). They raised, fed, and sometimes slaughtered livestock owned by the lord of the manor (Nardo 25). Some food they produced were

They, and the generations to come were dependent manorial workers who rarely left the estate (Nardo 25). Peasants also owed their lord plowing services (Bennett 107). He carted dung from the stables and cowsheds and spread it in lord’s fields (Bennett 108). After plowing, he had to harrow and weed the land from time to time (Bennett 108). Serfs tended and planted in lord’s garden (Bennett 108). In the summer after cutting hay, he had to bind and carry it to the lord’s barns (Bennett 108). They needed to help clean, thresh, winnow, and collect the best of straws for use in roofing stacks and houses (Bennett 108). They trimmed hedges, made fences, gathered reeds and rushes for thatching, and apples for cider (Bennett 108). Other than working in the fields, serfs also had other work they needed to do, both in and out of the manor. They owed carrying services to the lord, which meant carrying products to the lord’s home or to a nearby market where it could be sold (Bennett 109). Serfs with larger holdings could use horses and carts, but smaller holders had to carry things on their backs (Bennett 109). Anything the lord needed at manor house were carried by serfs (Bennett