 Today you will learn the basic framework of feudalism
in Europe and fill in the feudal pyramid.
 The Roman Empire slowly dissolves, leading
to chaos
 Trade declines
 Cities, bridges and roads start to fall apart
 Crime rises
 People begin to be attacked by barbarians
 Food and peace are scarce.
• Viking attacks show Northern Europe
they have a need to protect themselves
locally at a moment’s notice.
 Feudalism –a
political, social and
economic system in
which less powerful
people promise
loyalty to more
powerful people in
return for protection
and land.
 Loyalty can be important today among friends and
family, in business, and in politics.
 Loyalty was also important after the fall of the Roman
Empire. Promises of loyalty helped hold European
Society together.
 Western Europeans built a feudal system based on
loyalty and relationships. By doing so, they hoped to
gain political order, protection from outside threats,
and a stable form of leadership.
 Provided Land to
the nobles
 In return the nobles
swore loyalty to the
king and supplied
them with knights,
and food.
 Provided peasants
and serfs with land
to farm and
protection.
 Provided knights
with food and land.
 Promise to fight for
the nobles and
protect the land.
 In return they get
land and food from
the nobles.
 Produce food for the kingdom
and pay taxes to the nobles and
king.
 In return they get land to farm
and protection.
 Peasants had some rights –
such as the right to leave the
land.
 Serfs were “tied to the land”
meaning that they were not
allowed to leave the land and
were considered part of it.
And I’m a monk – the
lowest of all the
religious classes. I live
on a monastery and
serve my Christian
followers.
Basically, I’m so
powerful, I’m above it
all. Seems like the
Kings should be
showing me respect!
 What does your home look like?
 Do you own your own home?
 What else?
 Now, brainstorm four questions you’d like to answer
about one of following members of European feudal
classes: Monk, Monarch, Lord, Knight, Peasant/Serf
 I will assign you one class, and you should answer as
many of your questions as possible using the reading.
 Due Thursday.
 Can you fill in your target sheet?
 Where did monarchs get their power?
 Monarchs believed in the “divine right of kings,” which
meant that God gave them the right to rule.
 What were the responsibilities of a Monarch?
 Expected to keep order and to provide protection for
their vassals.
 Some were very involved in their kingdoms, while others
were more of a figurehead.
 What responsibilities did the lords have in the feudal
system?
 Lords managed and defended their manors and acted as
judges.
 They fought for their own lords in times of war and supplied
soldiers.
 They also appointed officials.
 What was the role of noblewomen (ladies) in the feudal
system?
 Could hold land and have all the duties of men (except for
fighting).
 Noblewomen raised and trained their children and
sometimes the children of other noble families.
 They were also responsible for overseeing their large
households.
 What responsibilities did knights have in the feudal
system?
 Knights were the mounted soldiers in the feudal system
and were expected to be loyal to their Church and lord,
to be fair, and to protect the helpless.
 Suppose that you are a knight. Write a code of chivalry
for yourself.
 What were the responsibilities of peasants in the
feudal system?
 Most peasants worked at raising crops and tending
livestock.
 Some worked as carpenters, shoemakers, and smiths.
 Peasants paid taxes to lords.
 What were some of the difficulties or challenges of
being a peasant or serf?
 The daily lives of peasants revolved around work. They
had to pay many taxes. They were required to grind their
grain at the lord’s mill and the miller kept grain for the
lord and for himself.
 Serfs were bound to the manor and couldn’t leave
without permission.
 For this activity, you will be a member of European
society during the 11th century.
 In this society, people were born into different classes
and serfs were peasants who did not have the freedom
to leave their lords’ land without permission.
Vikings
 Each of you should have a role card.
 You are going to experience European
feudalism.
 For each step, make sure you read and
follow the directions.
 When the bell rings, be silent or die of
the plague (out in the hall!)
 Monarch: Walk in a stately manner and sit on the
throne. Enjoy the items that have been provided by
your loyal subjects.
 All others: Applaud respectfully as the monarch
approaches his or her throne.
 Have a treat.
 Serfs: Go to your manor, sit on the
floor nearby, and hold onto one leg
of a desk. Begin producing food for
the manor by neatly coloring in the
seeds on each food token you were
given.
 Knights: Take an oath of loyalty to
your protect your noble and manor.
 Monarch and Nobles : Watch the
serfs go to their manors.
 Vikings: Go to “Scandanavia.”
Watch the manors grow and
decide which ones you should
attack in which order. You’ll be
arriving there in ships shortly to
attack, but it will take awhile to
cross the seas….
 Nobles: Kneel before the monarch and say:
 Oh, powerful monarch, I humbly request land for my
family.
 Monarch: One by one, take each noble’s hand and
have him or her repeat this oath:
 In taking this oath of loyalty, I swear to be loyal to you
and never make war against you.
 Monarch: Tear off a fief token and give it to each lord.
 Knights: Watch the nobles while you pretend to
groom your horse (any chair).
 Serfs: Watch the nobles while you continue to produce
food for your manor.
 Nobles: Sit on a desk at your manor. Demand payment
from each serf by saying:
 I have allowed you to live on my manor. In exchange, you
must give me a large portion of the goods you produce.
In return, you can farm and live on this land safely. Give
me four of your food tokens now.
 Serfs: Listen to your nobles, then tear off four tokens
and give them to your noble as payment for the
privilege of living on his or her manor.
 Knights: Watch the nobles collect payment form the
serfs while you pretend to polish your “shield.”
 Nobles: Attract knights to defend your
manor by offering them payment and
land. Offer a knight as many food tokens
as you wish, but you must keep some for
yourself.
 Knights: Approach each noble to find out
what he or she would be willing to pay you
in food tokens for your military service.
Kneel when you have reached an
agreement.
 Monarch: Watch the knights seek out
different nobles.
 Serfs: Watch the knights seek out
different nobles while you continue to
produce food for your manor.
 Nobles: Have Knights with
whom you have reached an
agreement kneel and repeat
this oath:
 In exchange for the goods and
land given to me, I promise to
be loyal and to fight in defense
of this manor and kingdom.
 Nobles: Pay your knights by
giving them food tokens.
 Serfs and Knights: Work to arrange desks around
your manor to create a four cornered castle. Knights
move your horses inside.
 Lords: Make sure your knights and serfs are making
your castle properly.
 Monarch: Select two Knights to help defend your
castle in case of attack.
 Vikings: Prepare paper wads to use as your weapons.
 Monarch: Huddle at the center of your castle and
quietly watch as each manor is attacked.
 Nobles: Keep your people calm and direct your
knights how to protect you.
 Knights: Use your “shield” to prevent the paper from
striking the noble and serfs.
 Serfs: When your manor is attacked, exclaim these
words:
 You feeble invader, you will never take our castle!
 Vikings: You will work as a team to attack the manors,
one at a time. If you hit anyone then you kill them.
You do not get your paper wad back. If you kill the
noble the manor is under your control.
 How did it feel to be a monarch? A noble? A knight? A
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serf?
In what ways were the nobles, knights, and serfs
interdependent?
Do you think loyalty oaths were necessary?
What do you think would happen if someone violated
a loyalty oath?
What were the benefits of this type of society? The
challenges or drawbacks?
How well did Feudalism establish order in Europe in
the Middle Ages?


People & Events

Samuel Chase

When Republicans under Thomas Jefferson led an impeachment attack against Samuel Chase, an associate justice of
the United States Supreme Court, the agenda was clearly political. The outcome of Chase's trial would largely
determine whether the judiciary could remain independent. And the fly in Jefferson's ointment would be his own vice
president, Aaron Burr, who was wanted in two states for the death of Alexander Hamilton.

Born in Princess Anne, Maryland, in 1741, Samuel Chase had served his country honorably. He held a seat in both the
Maryland assembly and the Continental Congress. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Before being
appointed to the Supreme Court by George Washington, Chase had been chief judge of the Maryland General Court. A
Federalist, Chase believed in a strong central government. But in his decisions, he also reflected a concern for the
rights of individuals with due process under the law.

President Thomas Jefferson, leader of the Republicans, disliked the idea of judges being appointed for life. He feared
that under such a system, the judiciary might become too powerful. And when Samuel Chase expressed Federalist
opinions from the bench, Jefferson encouraged the House of Representatives to impeach him.

Chase's trial would serve as an important test case. Could a judge be impeached for expressing unpopular opinions? Or
did a judge need to be guilty of crimes in order to be impeached? Jefferson was eager to have the question answered. If
he could impeach Chase easily, other Federalist judges, notably Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall,
would probably follow.