I do believe it was to improve trade with Asia :)
The Middle Ages or Medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. Is the middle period between the Classical Antiquity and the Modern Age.
1) One way that the land was divided during this time period was Manoralism, which consists of handing the power to the "Lord of the Manor". The manor was the nucleus of rural life. He was the tenant of the lands and the one who administrated them. He also lived in a big house called the manor house.
Another way of dividing the land was the three-field system: this refers to crop rotation used during the Middle Ages. In this case the land is divided into three fields for agriculture: one was planted with wheat, another one was planted with peas or lentils, an the last one was left unplanted.
The Feudalism refers to communities forming around the lord and the manor. The peasants were the ones working the land to grow crops.
2) The villeins during the Middle Ages lived similar to peasants. They weren't slaves because they had more rights than them. The lived less harder lives than the slaves but they also worked the lands. They were legally tied to the Lord of the Manor but were free men according to the law. Villeins could have their own houses and sometimes have small shops.
It really isnt, but i think people say that because one of the main parts of it is to respect the honor of women
