4.1 Life in the countryside

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

4.1 Life in the countryside

4.1 Life in the countryside

Learning objectives

1. You can describe how the economy changed in the Early Middle Ages in western Europe and give the reasons for those changes.
   
2. You can describe what a medieval manor looked like.
   
3. You can explain how the manorial system worked and the place serfs had in that system.
   

Sleep de tijdvakicoontjes naar de juiste plek en zet de naam van de tijdvakken op de juiste plek.

Tekst

Zet de symbolen van de tijdvakken in de juiste volgorde

Tijd van Jagers en boeren

Tijd van Burgers en stoommachines

Tijd van Monniken en Ridders

Tijd van Televisie en Computer

Tijd van Ontdekkers en Hervormers

Tijd van Steden en Staten

Tijd van Pruiken en Revoluties

Tijd van Grieken en Romeinen

Tijd van Regenten en Vorsten

Tijd van Wereldoorlogen

Vroeger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Nu

An agrarian economy 

An agrarian economy

• The Western Roman Empire split into several separate kingdoms
• Early Middle Ages (500-1000) and Late Middle Ages (1000-1500)
• One important change was 'economic' --> the urban life (life in cities) disappeared almost completely 
• An agrarian society developed. Almost everyone was a farmer (except for the elite, soldiers and priests) 

Why flee the cities? 

There was no more trade happening 

No more specialized craftspeople needed 

No more work in the cities.

Write down one important economic change in the period around 500.

What was one important reason for the economic change?

1. Farming became more and more productive so people started leaving the cities.
2. Trading became increasingly difficult because of the politico-administrative changes.
3. A small elite developed that was made up of administrators, soldiers and priests.
4. There was not enough demand for products made by specialized craftspeople.

Trade went well because of the pax romana 

There was not enough cheap grain to feed all the people in the cities 

An agrarian society developed 

People looked for work in the countryside 

The Western Roman Empire became weak and collapsed 

Trading became more and more difficult 

The manor 

The manor

• Farmers were often in danger because of the wars (plundering) --> they would look for protection --> they would go to a powerful farmer with a small army 
• In exchange for protection the small farmers had to give him their land 
• The area that is controlled by this powerful (lord) farmer = manor

The manor 

The manor

• A manor consisted of 3 parts

1) demesne (land where the lord lived)

2) farm holdings (where the farmers farmed, this land belonged to the lord)

3) wasteland (forests, marshes, rivers) 

• Life was quite simple: no trade, using your own materials, people didn't need money (they swapped goods)

Serfdom

Serfdom

• Big difference between the lord and farmers (military defence - working on the land)
  
• Many farmers were serfs. Serf gave their land to the land and gave up their freedom.
  
• They gave a part of the produce in exchange (rent) for protection
  
  

Serfdom

Serfdom

•  Serfs had to do servile duties for the lord  Looked after the land.
  
• Serfs weren't allowed to leave the manor without permission or marry 

• There were free farmers. They had their own land but had to fight for the lord.

• We call this economic system: manorial system
  
  
  

Explain how the lords of the manors got more and more land because of the unsafe situation in the Early Middle Ages.