Manorialism was a social and economic system that dominated medieval Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages. It revolved around the manor, which was a large estate owned by a lord. The manor included the lord's residence, farmland, and villages where peasants lived. In exchange for protection and land to farm, peasants, or serfs, worked the land and provided goods to the lord. This relationship created a self-sufficient community where everyone had specific roles.
The system was hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by powerful lords, and then the peasants at the bottom. Manorialism helped maintain order and stability during a time when central authority was weak. It also laid the groundwork for the later development of feudalism, which further