Why did the manor have to porduce nearly everything its residents needed?

Answer 1

The manor had to produce nearly everything its residents needed due to the limited reach of trade and transportation in medieval times. Self-sufficiency was crucial because the feudal system often isolated manors, making access to external markets unreliable. Additionally, the agrarian economy relied on local resources to sustain the population, ensuring that the manor could support itself through farming, livestock, and crafts. This reliance fostered a closed-loop system where residents produced goods and services primarily for their own consumption.