Castle Village:
A castle village was a settlement that grew around a castle or fortified manor house. It was typically located on the lord's estate and housed the peasants and serfs who worked on the land. The village provided a sense of security and protection to its inhabitants in times of conflict or unrest. The lord of the manor often held court in the castle, where disputes were settled, and justice was administered.
Land of a Lord's Estate:
The land of a lord's estate encompassed various agricultural fields, meadows, forests, and other resources. The peasants who lived in the castle village were responsible for cultivating the lord's land, tending to crops and livestock, and providing various services such as labor, taxes, and tithes. In return, the peasants were granted access to the land, protection, and the right to a portion of the harvest for their sustenance.
The relationship between the lord and the peasants was based on a reciprocal system of obligations and benefits known as manorialism. The peasants were bound to the land and owed fealty to the lord, while the lord provided them with protection, justice, and a means of livelihood. This feudal system played a central role in the social, economic, and political organization of medieval Europe.