Three institutionsùmanorialism, feudalism, and serfdomùdominated Western Europe until the 14th century. In what ways did these institutions encourage economic growth? In what ways did they discourage economic growth? What evidence can you give to support your answer)
The manorial system refers mainly to the connection between nobles and the serfs bound to a given noble's land, while the feudal system refers mainly to the connections between and among nobles of higher and lesser social status. Within social classes, whether among the clergy or the laity, and including the peasantry, there were hierarchical social divisions, but the peasant/serfs were at the bottom of the scale with little hope for social mobility (Cameron, 197, pp. 48-49). The principal way in which manorialism, feudalism, and serfdom encouraged economic growth in Western Europe was the fact that these systemsùwhich varied in details from country to countryùwere indeed systems, mechanisms of social organization and order that facilitated the project of seeing to the basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing for the majority of people. The alternative to this admittedly hierarchical form of social organization might have been complete anarchy. North cites the social disarray following the decline of the Roman Empire and the gradual affiliation of masses of people with military overlords who could protect them (1981, p. 127) and thereby set the stage for increased economic activity (p. 132).
Cameron refers to "patterns of stability" and social continuity that "supported a sparse population at a low but tolerable level" (1997, p. 50). North quotes from a detailed description of the organization of the English manor, which involved the specific allocations of manorial land (demesne) geared for supporting the lord, as well as allocations for manor-connected villagers, tenant farmers, and craft laborers (pp. 127-128). The impulse to economic growth of such a syste...