Feudalism and the Manor
Economy
Chapter 7 Section 2 Page 219
I. Feudalism
A. Feudalism stressed alliances of mutual
protection between monarchs and lords
1. Started around 900 A.D.
2. Based on giving land to nobles in
exchange for loyalty and military
aid
B. Feudal relationships were like a
Pyramid
1. King at top
2. Various ranks of lords in the middle.
Each lord was a vassal (a noble who
served a lord of the next higher rank)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo
Feudal obligations
3. Ties between a lord and a vassal were
made official in a ceremony known as
homage
4.
C.
In return for a fief, a vassal pledged
to: 1. Provide military service 2.
Serve in the lord’s court 3. Pay
ransom in the event of the lord’s
capture
Castles for defense
1. Warfare frequently occurred in
feudal society
2.
Castles included storerooms,
barracks, workshops, a well, and a
chapel
II. Life of the Nobility
A. Lords, ladies, and knights made up
the nobility of the middle ages
B. The lord collected rent and
administered justice within his fief
C.
Tournaments – (mock battles
between knights) were quite popular
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im3ZA7i3WV8
D. Becoming a Knight
1. A nobleman’s son began
training at age 7 (page)
2. At 15, he became a (squire)
3. Behavior was guided by a code
of chivalry
III. The Manorial System
A. Economic relationship between nobles
and peasants
1. Lords provided land, peasants
provided labor
2. Some peasants worked the land,
worked as artisans, shoemakers,
carpenters, brewers
3. Most peasants were serfs – bound to
the manor and could not leave
without permission
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIfDhHIy-Wo
B. Most manors only produced enough
food to support themselves
http://www.history.com/videos/heavy-cavalry-of-the-middle-ages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygc_IEbXxnA