MANOR LIFE ACTIVITY
This activity is designed to introduce you to society in western Europe after the fall of Rome and during
Feudal times. There were various waves of barbarians who attacked Europe from every side. The
fiercest were the Vikings who stole everything they could carry off and destroyed what they could not.
There was no emperor or empire anymore to protect them, so people – even the local kings and queens
- looked to lords that had land and power and groups of knights for security.
Set up: We need to divide the room into 4 quadrants to be our MANORS (large areas of land controlled
by a castle) – Door Manor , Sink Manor, Bohn Manor and Window Manor
Step 1: Read the background information on your card.
Read the description of the role you are playing. Questions about your role?
Step 2: Monarch assumes the throne.
The monarch is the king or queen, so remember to behave royally. Everyone else watch
respectfully and quietly. Feel impressed.
Step 3: Serfs go to your designated manor.
Tie your shoelaces to the desk leg and sit on the floor. REALLY! TIE YOUR SHOELACES TO THE
DESK IN THE NAME OF MS. BOHN!!!!! (EMPRESS OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE) I’M STILL WAITING.. GO
SIT UNDER STUDENT DESKS IN YOUR AREAS. If you are not wearing laces, hold onto the desk leg with
your hand.
You will remain tied to the “land” for the rest of the activity. There is nothing that can be done
to change your destiny. Feel depressed about life and move on ;)
Step 4: Lords, approach the monarch and negotiate the exchange of loyalty.
Kneel before the monarch.
Make your deal/request, THE ONE ON YOUR ROLE CARD“Oh, powerful monarch, I humbly
request land for my family,…”
Monarch take the hands of the lords one at a time and have them swear an oath to you. Repeat
it slowly! YOU CAN ALL REPEAT AFTER HIM AT THE SAME TIME.
Give the lords each a Fief Token. This means you are now the official owner of your manor
because your are loyal to the king and you won’t be at war with each other. You will now collect taxes
from your peasants (you’re also going to use this for hiring knights).
Step 5: Lords, go to your manors and collect food payments from each serf.
Sit on top of the desk – this is your castle.
Read the statement that is on the Lord Role Card word for word.
Serfs HAVE to give 3 of their 4 food tokens. They are totally poverty stricken. If they refuse,
they die. DOES EVERY SERF HAVE ONE TOKEN LEFT? AND ONLY ONE!!!!!
Step 6: Knights go find a lord to make a deal with. You will swear to protect and fight for your lord. Find
the lord who gives you the best deal, but remember – you cannot take everything they have or all the
people will die and they won’t want to hire you. Be fair. (LORDS, YOU ARE OFFERING THEM SOME FOOD
TOKENS AND WILL LET THEM LIVE ON YOUR DESK). IF YOU AREN’T GETTING ANY KNIGHTS, MAYBE
CHANGE YOUR DEAL!!! WITHOUT KNIGHTS, THE BARBARIAN INVADERS WILL TOTALLY KILL YOU IN THE
FACE. AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL TAKE OVER YOUR LAND AND YOUR SERFS.
OK – EVERY KNIGHT – SWEAR TO YOUR LORD!
ALRRIGHTY PEOPLE: GET BACK IN YOUR REAL SEATS! AND UNTIE YOUR SHOES FIRST.
SO: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE A SERF?
SERFS WERE BOUND TO THEIR LAND. THEY DID NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MILES FROM THEIR CASTLE IN
THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
SERFS WERE KINDA LIKE COWS. OR SHEEP. THEY CAME WITH THE PROPERTY. DID YOU NOTICE YOU
WERE ALREADY ON THE LAND WHEN THE KING – THE MIGHTY ADRIAN – GAVE YOU TO A LORD? YOU
WERE BASICALLY FURNITURE THAT KNEW HOW TO FARM. CONGRATULATIONS.
HOW MANY OF YOU BUILT FARMLAND AND/OR COTTAGES INTO YOUR CASTLES? THINK ABOUT IT –
THAT ‘S WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE ON YOUR FARMS! A BUNCH OF FURNITURE-LIKE SERFS!
OK – WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE KNIGHTS? THE BETTER FIGHTER YOU WERE, THE MORE YOU WOULD
HAVE EVENTUALLY EARNED….MAYBE EVEN YOUR OWN SMALLER CASTLE .
WHO WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT? Knights lords or serfs?
Serfs? Work, money, food,
Lords? Leader, they owned all the land….. offered a place to live and protection
Knights? Actual protection – kept people alive
It’s a trick question. THEY ALL NEEDED EACH OTHER TO LIVE. THIS SYSTEM OF SWEARING LOYALTY IS
CALLED FEUDALISM.
Get your castles. Get in your groups. Sit in a group near your castle.
On the top third of your paper, write down the defenses you have. You have one minute.
I NEED EVERY PERSON LISTENING AND LOOKING AT ME.
YOU NEED TO WRITE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP MEMBERS ON THE TOP PORTION. Now.
Ok, rip off the bottom two sections.carefully.
Go to another group’s castle and see what defenses you can find on theirs!!
Rip it off and leave it in their castle.
You need to visit two castles!!!!!
When you are done: Staple your original defense list to the reviews from other visitors and turn it into
the tray.
RECYCLE YOUR ROLE CARDS AND TOKENS!!!
DO I HAVE EVERYONE’S DEFENSE LIST WITH THEIR NAMES ON IT? THAT IS HOW YO’RE GETTING
GRADED. OK YOU GUYS WERE GREAT. GOOD BYE.