AP World History Homework

This was my weekly project-type assignment for AP World. The unit was Medieval Europe, and we had to write a ballad, so I chose to write about the Manor System. I actually had a lot of fun writing this. It's no Fair Mary of Wallington, but it's interesting? Plus is was a good break from all the NaNoWriMo stuff (ended day three with 5290 words!)

XD Enjoy. Or not. Your choice.

The Lowly Serf and the Lord of the Lands.

 

The lowly serf, protected with work,

I have nowhere else to hide.

I cultivate crops on land of the lord,

And by his words I always abide.

The lowly serf, protected with work,

Justice is given in exchange for goods.

My piece of the manor teems with crops,

But some I must take from my own brood.

 

The lowly serf, protected with work,

We must blame the decline of trade.
I have to stay on the land of the lord,

Or I’ll be unprotected, my family afraid.

The lord of lands, laughing with glee,

The fall has been good, I must say.

Without those traders keeping me on my toes,

All’s not fair in love, war or pay.

 

The lord of lands, laughing with glee,

I bang my fist on oak.

“Two bushels of corn, three slaughtered pigs,

Any less and you endanger yourself and your folks!”

The lord of the lands, laughing with glee,

I’m not as evil as I seem.

Without a market economy or specialization,

I’m really just trying to get what I need.

 

The lowly serf, protected with work,

I technically still am free.

I own my livestock, crops and seeds,

But it is them that still control me.

The times were hard, for all of us,

Life without any proper tools or plans.

The Dark Ages causing all of our words,

Manorialism quickly lost fans.