| Demesne,together with tenant lands,formed the basic feature of the manorial estate structure in the Middle Ages.It was the land that brought direct benefits to landlords,and its importance would change over time,depending on socio-economic circumstances.In medieval England,the management of demesne was not invariable,and the landlords would choose different management strategies according to different economic situations: when the production cost was low,social demand was large and prices were high,most of the landlords chose to directly operate the demesne to obtain profits.In this case,the value of the demesne could also be reflected,and the landlords would even choose to expand the acreages of demesne;however,when the production cost increased,in order to avoid the risk of falling demand and falling prices,the landlord would generally choose to lease demesne to his agent or tenant in order to obtain a fixed rent to safeguard his own interests.In the course of the evolution of English manorial economy,the demesne was always an important part of it,and also an important source of income for the landlord.The change of the management of the demesne was one of the signs of economic development and decline in the feudal society of England in the Middle Ages.The transformation of the management not only makes the old mode disintegrate,but also breeds some new factors.This paper is divided into three parts: introduction,text and conclusion.The introduction mainly introduces the basis and value of this issue,the analysis of basic concepts,the research review at home and abroad,and the structure and research methods.The text is divided into three chapters.The first chapter mainly discusses the changes of the economic situation and management mode of the demesnes from the Norman Conquest to the middle of the 14 th century.Economic situation relates to specific inputs and outputs on the demesnes,selection of crops and livestock,etc.On this basis,combined with the influence of other non-economic factors,this chapter also discusses the changes of the management mode of the demesnes during this period.The second chapter is similar to the first chapter in structure,mainly discussing the economic situation and management changes of the demesnes from the mid-14 th century to the end of the 15 th century.The third chapter focuses on the decline of the demesne economy and its relationship with the emerging economic forms.Through the discussion of the degree of commercialization of the output of demesne,the relationship between the landlord and market,and the relationship between the demesne and early farm,this chapter further clarifies the reasons for the decline of the demesne economy,and discusses the relationship between the decline and the disintegration of the manor system.The conclusion summarizes the changing trend of demesne management and its position in the rise and fall of manor system as a whole and the development of English economy. |
