Interactive Middle Ages Manor

The Three-Field System A key component of the Manor System was the three-field system. The three-field system was a method of crop rotation designed to maximize the amount of food the manor produced. The fields were used for different purposes and were rotated each year. The rotation allowed the fields to regain nutrients needed for crops to grow. The first field would be planted with winter crops such as rye and wheat. The second field would be planted with spring crops such as peas and beans. And the third field would lie fallow, meaning nothing was planted in it that year allowing the field to rest. This process would then alternate between the fields every year.

Mill Oftentimes located within the manor was a mill used to grind wheat and other grains to make flour. The mill would be located along a stream or river because they ran on waterpower (similar to old-fashioned water wheel). As the wheel turned, the grain would be ground by large stones.

Church The church was a very important part of life in the Middle Ages. Almost everyone practiced Christianity as it was the predominant religion during the time and both serfs and the Lord and his family would attend church in the village. The church also collected tithes, which is a 10% tax on a person’s income, that helped to make the church very wealthy and powerful.

Bakehouse In the Middle Ages, a bakehouse was an important building in a village or town where bread was baked. It was typically a communal oven where villagers brought their dough to be baked into bread. These bakehouses were often owned and operated by the lord of the manor or the local monastery. The bakehouse would have been a central gathering place for the community, where people not only baked their bread but also socialized and exchanged news and gossip.

Serf Homes Serfs on a manor typically lived in small, simple dwellings known as cottages or huts. These dwellings were usually clustered together in a village or hamlet within the boundaries of the manor. The size and quality of the dwellings could vary depending on the specific arrangements between the serfs and the lord of the manor. Generally, serfs did not own the land they lived on but instead worked on the lord's land in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate a portion of the land for their own sustenance.

Castle Castles on a manor served as fortified residences for the lord of the manor and their family. They were typically built in strategic locations to provide defense against potential invaders or rival lords. Castles varied in size and complexity depending on the wealth and status of the lord who built them. In times of danger, the castles provided protection for everyone on the manor, including serfs.

Common Pasture The common pasture was an essential resource for the sustenance of the community, providing grazing land for livestock that supplemented agricultural production. It was often carefully regulated to ensure that the grazing was sustainable and that all members of the community had fair access to the resources.

Well In the Middle Ages, wells were crucial sources of water for communities, particularly in rural areas where access to natural water sources such as rivers or streams might be limited. Wells were typically constructed by digging deep shafts into the ground until reaching a water table or aquifer, allowing access to groundwater. Clean water was very important in the Middle Ages and sometimes enemies would poison the wells on a manor. Because of this, many manors built their wells inside the walls of the castle.

Lord's Demesne The lord's demesne, often simply referred to as the demesne, was a portion of land within a manor or estate that was directly controlled and managed by the lord or landowner during the Middle Ages. It was distinct from the land allocated to serfs or tenants for their use, known as "villein land" or "tenanted land." The demesne typically consisted of the most fertile and productive land on the estate and was used for various purposes.

Orchard Orchards on a medieval manor were areas of cultivated land dedicated to the growth of fruit-bearing trees, such as apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees. These orchards served several purposes and were important components of the agricultural landscape

Woodlands Woodlands near a medieval manor served various important purposes, including timber, hunting, grazing livestock and gathering resources that grow in the forests

Blacksmith In the Middle Ages, a blacksmith was a highly skilled craftsman who worked primarily with iron and steel to produce a wide range of tools, weapons, and other metal objects essential for daily life. Blacksmiths played a crucial role in medieval society, providing essential services to both rural and urban communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen: You and a partner are going to create an original Middle Ages manor that incorporates (includes) all of the elements you defined as you made your way around the manor. Take the remainder of today to start planning your manor with your partner.

Create Your Own Middle Ages Manor

Your manor should: -have a name -use the ENTIRE posterboard -use color -contain all parts of the manor as shown in the manor diagram -be neatly labeled, drawn, and colored IT IS DUE THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH

Create Your Own Middle Ages Manor