production was used for these purposes, its relative efficiency or inefficiency was never a matter of concern, and, thus, was never questioned. When the manorial production began to be used for long distance trade, however, production costs became relevant. New divisions of labor and other innovations in agriculture were required, to permit efficient competition in the long distance markets.
Four factors often cited as primary reasons for the dissolution of the feudal system contributed both to the rise of towns and to the recognition of the inefficiency of the manorial system of production. The first of these factors was a recognition that some goods could be bought from town sources more cheaply and in better quality than similar goods could be produced on the manors. This recognition led to a desire to produce more efficiently on the manor, so that something of exchange value would be available to acquire these outside goods. Eventually,
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