Soon villagers and farmers alike began looking for a source of protection. The natural choice was the wealthy landowner who often had military power and could provide a safe haven in times of attack. The landholder (or Lord) was all too happy to give protection in return for crops and animals. However, soon this became more of a "Master and Servant" relationship rather than a mutually beneficial agreement because the lords had all the power and began to take advantage of the serfs.

Activity: Analyze the following list to decide if the characteristic is an advantage or disadvantage of manorialism. Drag and Drop each characteristic into the appropriate column. One spot will be left blank.

Activity: Below is a map of what a common village looked like during the Manorial System. Hover the mouse over each location to find out more about who lived or worked there and what life was like for that person(s).