Last Name:_______________________ First Name:_______________________ Date:_____________ Per.:____
Unit 1, Chapter 2, Part 2
The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe: Part 2 of 3 (Pages 22-25)
Feudalism
Monarch
Fief
Vassal
Peasant
Serf Castle
Divine right of Kings
Power
Embroidery
2.3 Feudalism: Establishing Order
By the High Middle Ages (about 1000 C.E.), Europeans had developed the system
Knights Fighting for their King
of feudalism. The feudal system provided people with protection and safety by establishing a stable social
order, or society1. Under this system, people were brought into agreements with each other. All the land
belonged to a monarch, or king, but sometimes a queen. A lot of the land was also owned by the church. The
king kept some of the land, and gave the rest away in what was called fiefs to the second most powerful group
called lords. After receiving the land the lords became vassals.
BIG IDEA (POWER): Why would the king give away some of his land to the lords? ___________________________
In return, the lords promised to help the king in times of war by allowing him the use
of his knights2. At the bottom of the social system were peasants. Lords rented some
of their land to peasants who worked for them. Some peasants who could not leave
the land were called serfs. They had to farm his land in exchange for some land of
their own. Most lords lived in manors, or large pieces of land. A manor included a
castle, one or more villages, and the surrounding farmland. Manors were far away
Serfs Working the Land by the Manor
from towns. This meant that the peasants made everything that the manor
needed. During the Middle Ages, people were born into a social class for life. They had the same job and
responsibilities as their parents.
Changes Over Time: How is the United States today different from the Middle Ages of Europe? The U.S. is
different from the Middle Ages by ___________________________________________________________
2.4 Monarch During Feudal Times
At the very top of feudal society were the monarchs, or kings and kings queens. As you have learned,
medieval monarchs were feudal lords. They were expected to keep order and to provide protection for their
vassals. Most medieval towns believed in the Divine rights of kings, the idea that God had given them the
right to rule. In reality, most monarchs, or kings had to work really hard to keep their power and maintain
their kingdoms. Few had enough money to keep their army. They had to heavily depend on their vassals to
provide enough knights for protection. In time, these vassals gained more and more power and ruled their
own fiefs (grants of land given by the king) as independent states. The king then became a symbolic ruler3
who had little real power.
BIG IDEA (POWER): In the paragraph above, what is most powerful, the divine right of kings or a vassal? Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
In England, some monarchs became quite strong during the Middle Ages. One of those kings was William the
Conqueror. He brought the feudal system to England from France. This system brought strong rulers and
stability to England for the first time since the collapse of the Roman Empire.
English Coin of William the Conqueror
Lords and Ladies During Feudal Times
Like monarchs, lords and ladies were members of the nobility, the highest-ranking class in
medieval society. Most lived in manors. Some lords had more than one manor. They usually
lived in one for a few months out of the year and then traveled to the next with their families.
1
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, there was no social order in society. This made for dangerous times.
Knights are soldiers
3
A ruler in name alone; not with any real power.
2
Manor Houses and Castles
Many people lived with the lord in the main house, or manor house. These manors were usually built of wood
or stone, surrounded by gardens and out buildings, such as stables for horses. They were protected by high
walls and deep moats4. The manor house was the center of the community. In times of trouble, villagers
entered the walls for protection. Inside, a great hall was used for special celebrations, such as Christmas.
Kings and Queens, high ranking nobles, and wealthy lords lived in even greater structures: castles. Castles had
three purposes: 1) They served as a home, 2) They provided protection in times of
attack, and 3) Their large size was a reminder of the hierarchy within a kingdom
and strict social structure. The first castles were built of wood and surrounded by
high wooden fences. Later, castles were built of stone to resist attacks by flaming
arrows and stronger weapons. They also had tall towers for lookouts, and inside,
could include libraries, dining halls, and guest rooms.
The Responsibilities and Daily Life of Lords and Ladies
It was the lord’s responsibility to manage and defend his land and the people who worked it. The lord
chose people to help him make sure the farming was done and the rent paid in the form of crops. They
also acted as judges in manor courts and could fine and punish anyone who broke the law. In times of
war, lords served for other higher ranking lords or provided knights to fight.
BIG IDEA (POWER): In the paragraph above, how did lords have POWER? _________________________________
It was quite common in the Middle Ages for noblewomen to hold fiefs and inherit land. Except for fighting,
women had all the duties and responsibilities of a male lord. Noblewomen who weren’t land
owners were still extremely busy. They were responsible for raising and training children.
They also took care of their household which could include hundreds of people such as priests,
master hunters, knights in training called squires5, cooks, servants, artists, craftspeople,
musicians, and jesters (“fools” who performed amusing jokes and stunts). When they weren’t
hard at work, lords and ladies enjoyed hunting and hawking (hunting with birds), feasting and
dancing, board games such as chess, and reading. Ladies also did fine embroidery, or decorative sewing.
Perspectives: What was the best part of being a Noblewomen in the Middle Ages? ___________
Although nobles and monarchs had the most privileged life in medieval times, their lives were not always easy and
comfortable. Lit only by candles and warmed by open fires, manor homes and castles could be gloomy and cold.
There was little or no privacy. Fleas and lice infected all medieval buildings. People only took baths around once a
week, maybe. Clothes could not be washed daily either. Diseases affected the rich as well as the poor. And, of
course, war was always a great danger.
In your own words, find the meaning of the words below?
1) Feudalism:______________________________________________________________________________
2) Monarch: ______________________________________________________________________________
3) Fief: ___________________________________________________________________________________
4) Vassal: _________________________________________________________________________________
5) Peasant: _______________________________________________________________________________
6) Serf: ___________________________________________________________________________________
7) Castle: _________________________________________________________________________________
8) Divine right of Kings: ______________________________________________________________________
9) POWER: ________________________________________________________________________________
10) Embroidery:_____________________________________________________________________________
4
5
A moat is a dug out area filled with water. See the picture of the castle above.
Squires were knights in training and assisted the knights.