Episode Description
In this episode, Mac and Zoe discuss how medieval peasantry worked, the complexities of the system, unexpected laws, rights, and privileges, and how world builders, writers, and game masters can both accurately represent and adapt the village system in their medieval fantasy worlds and TTRPGs.
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Citations & References:
- Gies, Frances & Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village. Harper & Row, 1990.
- “Medieval Settlements.” Historic England. A great PDF introduction. Link .
- Ellis, Penny. “Medieval Thoralby.” Thoralby Through Time. Link .
- Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free. The Viking Press, 1973.
- Ray, T.J. “Manorial Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
- Ray, T.J. “Feudal Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
- The Middle English Compendium. (Note: this site often goes down.) Link .
Terminology:
- cottager
- cotter
- demesne
- Dunbar’s Number
- famuli
- franklin
- freeman
- hamsoke
- hayward
- huckster
- merchet
- peasant
- pheasant
- reeve
- serf
- smallholder
- sokeman
- tenant farmer
- villein
- virgate
- week work