In the Middle Ages, manor was not an ideal economic model, its economic form was very closed, people's living standard was only for survival, and it was a production unit with slow progress. All these were related to the disorder at that time: after the Germans overthrew the Roman Empire, there was no sound system to replace it; Moreover, wars between barbarian tribes continued, and a complete and mature ruling system was not formed, so at that time, the king adopted the way of giving rewards to safeguard his self-power:

First, the seized property is distributed to individuals in strict accordance with the equal distribution system.

Secondly, the granting of land as a legal person has formed a person's large real estate, and the reward is not completed at the first level, but can be given at different levels, forming a German real estate on the Roman artificial real estate; These unpaid remuneration, together with the real estate in rural Rome, formed a large real estate in which the land in western Europe was basically included. In Roman times, real estate was private, but at this time, real estate was artificially divided and contained different components: one was private land owned by real estate owners, and the other was land for cultivation.

This institutional change constitutes the foundation of manor, and the difference between manor and large real estate is that it does not deprive the right to cultivate land.

At the same time, the nature of the land has also changed. Manor has become both an economic activity unit and an administrative unit integrating politics, law and criminal (including economy), which interferes with each other, thus forming the division basis after the Middle Ages: the manor owner is equal to the manor owner, his sovereignty and land are divided, and the subcontractor is only responsible for the subcontractor at the next higher level, which leads to the dispersion of the sovereignty of the medieval king.

As far as the composition of manor land is concerned, it can be roughly divided into the following four parts:

First, the private land of the Lord.

Second, farmers' land.

Third, the grassland for grazing.

Fourth, provide forest land for planting wood.

As far as manor buildings are concerned, they can be roughly divided into three types:

First, it is a luxurious manor house located in a high place, but it is not a castle that most people think.

Second, the humble farmhouse.

Third, public facilities, including churches, water mills (owned by manor owners) and craftsmen's warehouses.

The manor has all the facilities for daily life. Fundamentally speaking, as a collective agriculture, no one can own cultivated land and the animals and tools needed for cultivated land alone.

There are many public facilities in the manor, including the owner's private land. As the labor force of slave owners, they have priority.

The manor is truly self-sufficient, which shows that the number of people the manor can accommodate is certain, and the population can be judged by the size of the manor. Of course, this is also because of the low birth rate and low survival rate in the Middle Ages, and the number has remained unchanged. And keep the natural balance.

The manor also needs to be managed, but the owner of the manor often appoints his men to manage it regardless of the affairs of the manor. The main house of the manor is occupied by the appointee. The purpose is to know that farmers can get practical gains and thus have a tense relationship with the locals. The specific work is completed by the villagers.

The manor court, the ruling institution of the manor, can best reflect the authority of the manor owner and has the following characteristics:

First, it is a non-permanent institution, which decides the interval of court sessions according to the number of local problems and the owner's own wishes.

Second, it is stipulated that all local farmers should attend the court session, not everyone has the right to speak, and it is composed of representatives and juries.

Third, the proceedings of the manor court are relatively rigid, and they all focus on whether they can impress the manor owner rather than on the matter: the judgment of the court may not be implemented.

The manor court only dealt with the internal affairs of the manor to deal with "housework", but it did play an important role in the management of the manor at that time, including all kinds of affairs in the manor, from small things to big things. Through this system, its internal problems can be solved and adjusted.

The species planted in the manor at that time had a great relationship with the division of the land itself.

First, food includes: wheat, which is the main food for people, but its growth period is slow, its yield is low and its demand for land is high; Barley has a short growth period and high yield, but it is hard for people to eat. Except during famine, it is mainly used to feed horses on weekdays.

Second, the cash crops are grapes and olives. The former can be said to be a relic of the Roman period, and is usually used to make wine. The latter is used to make oil.

Third, the crops in animal husbandry. At that time, cattle and horses were necessities, the number of cattle must be guaranteed, and horses were also indispensable as a necessity for military service. Meat is provided by poultry, mainly pigs, sheep and chickens. , and a certain amount must be guaranteed when the weather is suitable; However, due to the backward feeding conditions at that time, these poultry could not survive the winter, so slaughtering in autumn became a festival, because it could avoid their death and preserve them for a long time. The main preservation method is curing meat.

At that time, farmers lived in poverty and had a moderate burden, and their class almost included all kinds of labor. This class has long working hours and lives a life of "men plowing and women weaving". Farmers not only cultivate the land, but also have the legal obligation to engage in hard labor: build bridges and roads, even if they pay money. The living conditions of farmers are also very poor. There is no bed and no entertainment at home. Life is monotonous and unchanging. In the early Middle Ages, there was no secular culture and education, and farmers were illiterate and had no books to read. At that time, only priests had sheepskin books.

The heavy burden of farmers in the Middle Ages is also extremely rare: the rent in kind, the labor rent, the cost of using public facilities, the marriage tax that must be paid when getting married (especially for people outside the manor, and the fine), the inheritance tax, and the living expenses of the manor owner.

From the above situation, it is not difficult for us to know that the economic life of medieval manor was very fragile, and the scope of farmers' life was relatively narrow, and problems would arise if there was a slight sign of trouble. Famine and plague were more common in that period. But most people are used to this lifestyle and state. This manor life lasted for a long time in the Middle Ages and was not broken until the late Middle Ages.