Physical isolation and political independence were two of the defining characteristics of the medieval village. For this reason, each village needed to function as a self-contained entity capable of supplying all of its citizens' needs, a necessity that demanded a variety of workers skilled in many different professions and crafts. Regardless of where they worked or what jobs they performed, each member of the village had a particular role or trade that had been handed down from father to son, and each was dependent upon all the others for survival. Over many generations, a refined mix of village leaders, village officials, craftsmen, and unskilled labor evolved to serve the needs of all villagers.

The Steward

The steward was the highest-ranking village worker who was not a member of the nobility. He functioned as a lord's chief officer, overseeing lands and villagers. His principal jobs...