which cover approximately the period from the Norman invasion of Britain, in 1066,

其中大約涵蓋了從1066年諾曼人入侵英國開始的時期。

to the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485,

到1485年玫瑰戰爭結束。

England moved from being an almost exclusively agricultural feudal society

英國從一個幾乎完全是農業的封建社會走向了

to a society on the threshold of creating an empire.

到一個即將建立帝國的社會。

Medieval society was based on the feudal system

中世紀的社會是以封建制度為基礎的。

which can be said to have become an age of England under William the Conqueror.

可以說在征服者威廉的帶領下，成為英國的一個時代。

He introduced the idea that all land

他介紹說，所有的土地

was the property of the Crown

是王室的財產

to dispose of as the king thought fit .

在國王認為合適的情況下進行處置。

Large tracts of countryside were granted to the king supporters

大片的農村土地被授予國王的支持者。

who, in return, were bound to pay rent

他們，作為回報，必須支付租金。

and offer their services when required.

並在需要時提供服務。

This usually meant supplying a certain number of armed knights

這通常意味著提供一定數量的武裝騎士。

in time of war.

在戰時。

The lords would then rent their land to tenant famers

然後，領主會把他們的土地租給佃農。

under similar conditions.

在類似條件下。

These farmers were known as serfs

這些農民被稱為農奴

or "villains"

金"小人&quot。

and their lives were overshadowed by extreme hardship.

而他們的生活也被極度的困苦所籠罩。

A serf was effectively the property of the lord for whom he worked.

農奴實際上是他為之工作的領主的財產。

He was not permitted to leave the land and go where he wished.

他不被允許離開土地，去他想去的地方。

If he tried to he would be brought back and punished.

如果他試圖這樣做，他就會被帶回來並受到懲罰。

Neither could he marry without the permission of the lord

沒有大人的允許，他也不能結婚。

which was also required should the serf wished to allow his son or daughter to marry.

如果農奴想讓自己的兒子或女兒結婚，也必須要有這樣的條件。

On the death of a serf an heir had to pay a tax to the lord

農奴死後，繼承人要向領主交納賦稅。

before he could continue to farm

在他能繼續耕種之前

besides what was known as a "heriot"often the best animal on the farm.

除了被稱為"Heriot"通常是農場裡最好的動物。

On top of the burden of working his own land to feed his family,

在自己耕地養家的負擔之上。

the serf had to spend about three days each week working on the land of his lord.

農奴每週要花三天左右的時間在主人的土地上工作。

A service rendered in lieu of rent

替代租金的服務

plowing, sowing, harvesting, of course,

當然是犁地、播種、收割。

but also repairing the manor house,

但同時也在修繕莊園。

building barns and running errands to the local villagers,

給當地村民建倉、跑腿。

a very time consuming and tiring business.

一個非常耗時耗力的業務。