Feudalism Assessment Questions:
1. Divine Right to Rule: the belief that God gives monarchs the right to vote
2. Nobles: a person of high rank by birth or title
3. Monarch: a ruler, such as a king or queen
4. Manor: a large estate, including farmland and villages, held by a lord
5. Fief: land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service
6. Hierarchy: a system of organizing people into ranks, with those of higher rank
having more power and privileges
7. Chivalry (Code of Chivalry): the medieval knight’s code of ideal behavior, including
bravery, loyalty, and respect for women
8. Feudalism: economic and political system that developed in Europe during the
Middle Ages
9. Social Pyramid: a social structure in the shape of a pyramid, with layers
representing social classes of different rank or status
10. Homage: formal public acknowledgment of feudal allegiance
11. Interdependence: two or more groups depending on each other
12. Vassal: holder of land on conditions of homage and loyalty
13. Charlemagne: Charles the Great, encouraged education, court is center of culture,
unified Christian lands, crowned Holy Roman Emperor, helped feudalism by
rewarding knights with land and privileges
14. William the Conqueror: King of Normandy, won Battle of Hasting to become King of
England, decreased power of nobles, taxes, and census
15. Battle of Hastings: Battle found for English thrown—William the Conqueror won—
brought Feudalism over
16. Knights: an armed warrior @ age 21
17. Page: First step to knighthood, age 7, waited on hosts, learned manners, chess,
fighting strategies
18. Squire: age 14, second step, servant to knight
19. Peasants/Serfs: bottom group of Feudalism pyramid, worked the lands.
20. Motte & Bailey: types of castles
21. Siege Tower: movable building used for castle attacks
22. Trebuchet: giant slingshot
23. Eleanor of Aquitaine: Duke of Aquitaine, Queen of England & France
24. Groups within Feudal Pyramid:
a. King, Nobles, Knights, Peasants
b. Kings: lands belong to monarchs
i. Kept land for self, gave out fiefs
c. Nobles: got fiefs from King (became vassals)
i. Get knights to fight for king
d. Knights: Hired by nobles to fight—now nobles’ vassals
e. Peasants: worked for lords, serfs are tied to the land
25. Relationships between King, Noble, Knight, and Peasants (see #24)
26. Charlemagne’s accomplishments
a. Center for culture
b. Education
c. Holy Roman Emperor, influence with Church
d. Fought off barbarians
e. Helped feudal society= rewarding knights
27. Significance of Battle of Hastings
a. William= king of England
b. Taxes
c. Census
d. Decreased power of nobles
e. Feudalism—order in England
28. Purpose and structure for Medieval Castles
a.
29. Evaluate effectiveness of medieval feudal structure