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Video Notes: Social Structure in the Middle Ages
1. Who was William the Conqueror?
French king.
Battle of Hastings – 1st king of England met resistance with English people,
owned all the land, so gave it to loyal people in return for support (these
people = vassals)
2. Define lords and vassals. What was the relationship between these two
groups of people?
Lord and his land (fief)
Vassal keeps land as long as he is loyal and performs service for the lord
(usually military service)
Vassals then can give the land to another, thus becoming a lord himself
3. What was a celebration of homage?
Establish loyalty to the lord
4. Why was it important to have land during the Middle Ages?
Food, manufacturing = MONEY
More land = more power
5. What was a fief? Provide some examples of fiefs.
Fief = usually land
Public office
Church official position
Tax collection
6. Give some examples of the services required of vassals.
Usually military
Loyalty
Any service
7. What happened if the feudal relationship was broken off?
Land returns to original lord by force if necessary
CONTINUED 
8. Define the role of noblewomen during the Middle Ages. What were their
primary responsibilities?
COULD inherit land, but husband would control
Often times married for land
Women could marry or become a nun = teach, healthcare, needlework
Main job was to bear children (A LOT) and raise to adulthood
Peasant/Serf women did equal share of the work. Merchants wives sould
have better homes, more control of home or business, better clothes, etc.
9. Who was William Marshal? What was interesting about his vassalage?
Protector of prince because of royalty. He was a knight and a sworn vassal of
English AND French kings. Stood against the English king and would not fight
against the French. He was judged as a traitor by English king.
10. What is an effigy, and what might it tell us about medieval people?
Statue carved as monument of accomplishments, detailed with clothing,
items being held, poses (in prayer)
11. What was a manor? Who lived on manors during the Middle Ages?
Whole package – land, buildings, serfs; like a mini town
Lord and family; vassals and families if on the same area of land; serfs and
families; church officials/parish, nuns…
12. Describe the role of the serf on the medieval manor.
Attend crops for family and lord; worked on land and did other jobs
NOT a slave – belonged to the LAND, not the LORD; cannot be sold by lord,
will always stay with the land
Protection and food by lord in hard times
Free peasants were simply alone to fend for themselves
13. What role did the Church play in medieval Europe?
Dominated life in the Middle Ages
Everything connected to “will of God”
Relationships in Feudal times held the society together.
Top and Bottom relied on each other for survival.