The Agricultural Homestead in Moravian Mediaeval Villages

This work describes the organization of an agricultural homestead and its equipment and function and the ensuing research contributes towards an understanding of aspects of the social and economical status of peasants during the High and Late Middle Ages. Looking at homesteads, courtyards and villages, the author mainly focuses on the period between the 13th - 15th centuries in the region of the present-day Czech Republic, as well as in other parts of Central Europe, extending the current knowledge base, with the intention of bringing more information on the development of the inner structure of the mediaeval village. Contents: Introduction; Research on rural settlements in Europe (Bohemia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Poland, England, France); Research on rural settlements in Moravia; Agricultural homestead in written sources; the House; Construction and appearance of houses; House furnishings; Cellars; Auxiliary buildings; Shaping the agricultural homestead; Homestead equipment; Economy of the average homestead; Manors in the Medieval village; Ploughland; Reconstructing the buildings in the agricultural homestead of the Medieval settlement; Conclusion.