Example: Agricultural tools improved significantly with the increased use of iron, including the introduction of the heavy plow and shoulder collar for horses.

Definition: Jachère médiévale (fallow) was the practice of periodically leaving land unplanted to restore soil fertility.

Highlight: The evolution of farming tools, particularly the transition from wooden to iron implements, marked a significant technological advancement.

Highlight: Lords actively encouraged land clearance and new settlements by offering reduced taxes to attract new peasants.

Definition: The donjon (keep) was the main residential tower within a castle where the lord and his family lived.

Example: Castles served multiple functions: residential, defensive, and as centers of local administration.

Definition: Adoubement was the ceremony of knighthood, marking a noble youth's transition to knightly status.

Vocabulary: The heaume was a knight's helmet, an essential piece of military equipment.

Highlight: Knight training was exclusively for male nobles, beginning at a young age and typically conducted away from home.

Definition: A fief (seigneurie) was the entire domain controlled by a lord, including both the reserve (land worked directly for the lord) and tenures (land granted to peasants).

Vocabulary: Villeins (vilains) were free peasants, distinct from serfs who were bound to the land.

Highlight: Banalities were fees peasants paid for using essential facilities like mills, ovens, and wine presses, highlighting the lord's control over daily life.