The medieval manor in the 12th century was the domain of the lord and his occupants. The land that was cultivable and suitable for agriculture was divided into a state estate, where the returns went to the lord, and a larger portion that went to the peasants. All farmers worked in groups, collaborating together to grow crops. They all shared great harvests, as well as devastating disasters. Land intended for agriculture was divided into strips owned by individuals or families that were scattered throughout the manor, known as the open field system. In areas where soil quality allows for high crop yields, arable land has been divided into three plots. Every year, two fields are sown and cultivated while the third remains empty to replenish nutrients. Animal fertilizers such as chicken, sheep and livestock manure were very valuable and worked very well. Organic compost was also used as fertilizer. The entire system was efficient and helped farmers grow the crops needed by the medieval manor. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Women played a significant role in the agricultural life of medieval society. They shared their husbands' backbreaking labor with work in the fields during harvest time. Lords of large estates commonly hired female workers to tend gardens, shear sheep, and perform common household chores, such as baking, cleaning, and laundry. Farmers' wives contributed to the family income by selling the crops they grew in their home or garden. Women also played an important role in producing beer for the community market. Making beer was hard and dangerous work, requiring carrying 12-gallon vats of hot liquid. 5% of women who died lost their lives in brewing-related accidents, falling into vats of boiling liquid. Women may have held considerable power within the household because they perform housework and sometimes contribute to their husband's agricultural work. The Christian religion had the greatest impact on the people of the Middle Ages and was predominant in virtually every aspect of their lives. The local church was the center of religious practices, where participation was a public and social duty. The important events of Christian life took place mainly in or around the church. Many babies were baptized in church within hours of birth. Many wanted to be buried near the church next to the holy place at the end of their lives. A good wife would make the sign of the cross on a loaf of bread before cutting it, before planting, the village priest would sprinkle the fields with water to represent life and refreshment. A central tenet of a medieval person's beliefs was that after the end of their life, they would be rewarded or punished based on their actions in their living years. The worldview of medieval society at the time was that the Christian religion was a social duty, to be taken very seriously, not an hour in church once a week, but rather every day. The nobility strongly influenced all aspects of medieval culture, such as politics, religion, education, economics and art. The nobility continued to hold real social and political power in Europe well into the 19th century. The nobles recruited troops and commanded them on the battlefield. He made political decisions that affected those around him and protected citizens in times of attack. The social function of the nobles, as the ecclesiastics described it, was to utilize fighting skills.