système seigneurial

The système seigneurial was a feudal land system used in New France (now parts of Canada) from the 17th to 19th centuries. In this system, land was divided into large strips owned by a seigneur (lord), who granted parcels to tenants (habitants) in exchange for services like rent or labor. The seigneur provided land safety, legal protection, and access to resources, while habitants farmed the land. This hierarchical arrangement maintained social order and supported local governance, shaping the rural landscape and community structure for centuries.