Key Concepts of Medieval Feudal Society and Life

The Fief: Structure and Self-Sufficiency

The fief consisted of a rural estate composed of extensive areas of arable land, pastures, and forests where people hunted and obtained firewood and other products. The fief economy was self-sufficient.

The estate was divided into two parts:

• Demesne: Land that was exploited directly by the lord. It consisted of farmland, pastures, and woods. It was farmed by serfs. The lord was also the owner of the mill, press, and oven, and peasants paid for these services.
• Tenements: Plots of land the lord gave to free peasants in exchange for rent or a part of the harvest, and for carrying out different services for the lord on his land.

Jousting: Medieval Knightly Competition

Jousting was a competition in which two knights on horseback fought each other with lances.

Medieval Economy: Agriculture and Trade

The economy was based primarily on agriculture and livestock.

Agriculture

Agriculture was the main economic activity. Common crops were cereals. Productivity was low; they used the Roman wooden plough, and most of the tools were very basic. From the end of the 10th century, they began to use watermills and windmills.

They practiced two-year crop rotation: Each year, the arable land was divided into two halves. One half was planted with crops while the other one was left fallow so it could regenerate.

Livestock Rearing

The main activity was pig, cow, and sheep rearing. Pigs were fed with acorns from the fief's forests. People obtained milk and wool from sheep, and meat, milk, and hides from cows. Oxen were used to pull carts and ploughs. They kept chickens, ducks, and other kinds of poultry. They practiced bee-keeping, obtaining wax and honey from the bees. Horse-breeding was also important.

Trade

There were local markets. Foreign trade continued, especially by sea. Main commercial products were wine, salt, textiles, cereals, weapons, and iron tools.

The Crusades: Military Expeditions to the Holy Land

The Crusades were military expeditions, formed by thousands of Christians of all ages and social classes. The objective was to recover the Holy Land, which had been conquered by Muslims. Various crusades took place, and military orders grew out of the Crusades.

Pilgrimages: Seeking Pardon and Favor

Pilgrims traveled to Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago de Compostela to ask for pardon for their sins or to ask God for a favour.

The Benedictine Order

The Benedictine Order is the religious order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict and has the motto 'ora et labora' (pray and work).