What were the houses of lords in the Middle Ages called?

The houses of lords in the Middle Ages were primarily referred to as manors. A manor was a large estate owned by a lord, which typically included the lord's residence (a manor house), agricultural land, and various buildings. These manors served as the center of agricultural production and the administration of local justice and governance during the feudal system.

The concept of a manor is significant in the context of medieval society, as it illustrates the hierarchical structure where lords owned the land and governed the peasants who worked it, creating a system of obligations and protections. Manors were often self-sufficient, containing not just the lord’s house but also workshops, barns, and housing for peasants, all contributing to the local economy.

In contrast, castles, while also associated with lords during the medieval period, served primarily as fortified residences and military strongholds rather than centers of agricultural administration. Farms refer to smaller units of land typically worked by peasants or tenant farmers, and villages were communities where these peasants lived, rather than the larger estates of the nobility. Thus, manors are the correct term for the houses of lords during the Middle Ages, encapsulating their roles within feudal society.