Medieval Times-Life in a Norman Countryside

What crops were grown in manor’s fields?

wheat, oats, barley

what was made from these crops?

wheat made bread, oats made porridge, barley made beer

what was the open field system?

the land for crops was divided into three huge fields, they practised crop rotation, and they had a fourth large field for grazing the animals

explain the word fallow

an empty field in crop rotation left for one year so the soil could recover

what were commons?

the fourth large field used for grazing animals

what was a tithe

it was a tenth of the amount of income freemen had to pay to the priest

what were two differences between a serf and a freeman?

freemen did not have to work the land for free, while serfs did, freemen could marry and leave as they wished, while serfs could not

what was a serfs home like?

it was made from wattle and daub walls, an earthen floor and a thatched roof

what were a peasants clothes made from?

wool or linen, and dyed using berry juice, and shoes were leather

what did male serfs do?

worked the land

what did female serfs do?

looked after the home, cooked, made clothes, and reared the children

what was leisure time for a serf?

there was mass, singing and dancing, drinking and village games