The shepherd was only one of the many important roles in feudalism, who had many important jobs. Shepherd serfs had lots of important jobs around the manor. To become a shepherd, a normal farmer serf could pay a cash payment to gain the many privileges, but also responsibilities of a shepherd (Bennett 77). The shepherds main job was to move the lord’s fold of sheep around from place to place on the demesne (Bennett 77). He also had to report any peasants that tried to keep their sheep on their own land, which was against the law, all sheep had to be in the lord’s fold (Bennett 77). Shepherd’s also had to wash and shear the sheep (Bennett 108). They might have even slept with the sheep at night to take care of them (Colton 308). He also
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Even though their lives were very similar, serfs had less rights than freemen. Serfs belonged to the manor, they were seen as land or property (Goetz 136). Serfs were also extremely dependent dependent on the decisions of their lords (Goetz 139). Even though serfs belonged to their lord, some managed to escape their manors (Goetz 136). If a serf managed to escape the manor for one year and a day, he was considered free from his lord (Gilbert). Freemen had a bit more rights than serfs, but their lives were still very similar. To enter the manor most freemen had to pay through a leasehold, and in return they did not give up their legal status when entering the manor (Goetz 136). Because they paid more than serfs freemen had to work just a little bit less than serfs (Gilbert). Serfs and freemen were very similar, there were only minor differences in their …show more content…
Wool was extremely valuable, and helped the economy of many countries. Wool was the best raw material in Europe at the time, and the sheep’s hoof was even known as the “golden hoof” (Gimpel 46). Medieval countries used millions of fleeces each year; for example, in 1273 8 million sheep were sheared (Gimpel 46). Breeders even started to use selective breeding to develop sheep with longer hair, which would have been more profitable (Gimpel 45). One of the causes of the largest war in the Middle Ages between England and France, was wool. The 100 Year War went on for about 116 years, and was partially a dispute over land, which held sheep on it, and England also wanted to protect their wool trade with Flanders, so they fought to protect it (Johnson). Sheep weren’t just used for their wool, they also had many other important uses. Sheep could be used for milk, butter, cheese, mutton, and their skin could be used to make parchment (Gimpel 45). There was a high demand for books in the 12th century after a rise in education, which made sheep extremely valuable because their skin could be used for parchment to make books (Gimpel 45). Shepherds had an extremely important job in the Middle Ages, which kept many economies, and Feudalism alive.
Feudalism created an organized society in the Middle Ages which was extremely reliant on each of it’s vital layers, even small roles such as the shepherd
Even though their lives were very similar, serfs had less rights than freemen. Serfs belonged to the manor, they were seen as land or property (Goetz 136). Serfs were also extremely dependent dependent on the decisions of their lords (Goetz 139). Even though serfs belonged to their lord, some managed to escape their manors (Goetz 136). If a serf managed to escape the manor for one year and a day, he was considered free from his lord (Gilbert). Freemen had a bit more rights than serfs, but their lives were still very similar. To enter the manor most freemen had to pay through a leasehold, and in return they did not give up their legal status when entering the manor (Goetz 136). Because they paid more than serfs freemen had to work just a little bit less than serfs (Gilbert). Serfs and freemen were very similar, there were only minor differences in their …show more content…
Wool was extremely valuable, and helped the economy of many countries. Wool was the best raw material in Europe at the time, and the sheep’s hoof was even known as the “golden hoof” (Gimpel 46). Medieval countries used millions of fleeces each year; for example, in 1273 8 million sheep were sheared (Gimpel 46). Breeders even started to use selective breeding to develop sheep with longer hair, which would have been more profitable (Gimpel 45). One of the causes of the largest war in the Middle Ages between England and France, was wool. The 100 Year War went on for about 116 years, and was partially a dispute over land, which held sheep on it, and England also wanted to protect their wool trade with Flanders, so they fought to protect it (Johnson). Sheep weren’t just used for their wool, they also had many other important uses. Sheep could be used for milk, butter, cheese, mutton, and their skin could be used to make parchment (Gimpel 45). There was a high demand for books in the 12th century after a rise in education, which made sheep extremely valuable because their skin could be used for parchment to make books (Gimpel 45). Shepherds had an extremely important job in the Middle Ages, which kept many economies, and Feudalism alive.
Feudalism created an organized society in the Middle Ages which was extremely reliant on each of it’s vital layers, even small roles such as the shepherd