Feudalism
Unit 4/European Middle Ages
Mrs. Robinson
Name:____________________
Date: _____________________
The information in the box below gives some general information about the European Feudal System and the obligations a
vassal or a lord had under this system. Read the information and use it to answer the following questions.
Feudalism
The social structure of the Middle Ages was organized round the system of Feudalism. Feudalism in practice meant that
the country was not governed by the king but by individual lords, or barons, who administered their own estates,
dispensed their own justice, minted their own money, levied taxes and tolls, and demanded military service from vassals.
Usually the lords could field greater armies than the king. In theory the king was the chief feudal lord, but in reality the
individual lords were supreme in their own territory. Many kings were little more than figurehead rulers.
In this feudal system, the king awarded land grants or “fiefs” to his most important nobles, his barons, and his bishops, in
return for their contribution of soldiers for the king’s armies. At the lowest echelon of society were the peasants, also
called “serf” or “villeins.” In exchange for living and working on his land, known as the “demesne,” the lord offered his
peasants protection.
Feudal Ties
Feudalism was built upon a relationship of obligation and mutual service between vassals and lords. A vassal held his land,
or fief, as a grant from a lord. When a vassal died, his heir was required to publicly renew his oath of faithfulness (fealty)
to his lord (suzerain). This public oath was called "homage".
1. The text above never says “Feudalism is…” and then give you a definition. It just doesn’t do it. BUT, it does tell you
what feudalism is. So, what is feudalism? Give textual evidence AND explanation for your answer.
2. In the feudal system, who had the power: the king or the lords/barons? Give textual evidence AND explanation for
your answer.
3. So, explain how feudalism worked? In other words, tell me who did what in exchange for what from whom. If you
would like, you can draw a simple diagram to show this relationship.
Feudalism
Name:____________________
Unit 4/European Middle Ages
Mrs. Robinson
Date: _____________________
The information in the box below details the hierarchy or order of power in the Feudal System and the jobs each position
had. Read the information and use it to answer the following questions.
Hierarchy of Rulers
King
The top leader in the land was the king. The king could not control all of the land by himself, so he divided it up among the
Barons. In return, the Barons pledged their loyalty and soldiers to the king. When a king died, his firstborn son would
inherit the throne. When one family stayed in power for a long time, this was called a dynasty.
Bishop
The Bishop was the top church leader in the kingdom and managed an area called a diocese. The Catholic Church was
very powerful in most parts of Medieval Europe and this made the Bishop powerful as well. Not only that, but the church
received a tithe of 10 percent from all the people. This made some Bishops very rich.
Baron
Barons ruled large areas of land called fiefs. They reported directly to the king and were very powerful. They divided up
their land among vassals who ran individual manors. Their job was to maintain an army that was at the king's service. If
they did not have an army, sometimes they would pay the king a tax instead. This tax was called shield money.
Vassals
The vassals ran the local manors. They also were the knights and could be called into battle at any moment by their Baron.
The vassals owned everything on their land including the peasants, crops, and village. The vassal was required to attend
the lord at his court, help administer justice, and contribute money if needed. He must answer a summons to battle,
bringing an agreed upon number of fighting men. As well, he must feed and house the lord and his company when they
travelled across his land.
Peasants/Serfs
Most of the people living in the Middle Ages were peasants. Some peasants were considered free and could own their
own businesses like carpenters, bakers, and blacksmiths. Peasants had a hard life, but they did not work on Sundays or on
the frequent saints' days, and they could go to nearby fairs and markets. Others were more like slaves and called serfs.
Although not technically a slave, a serf was bound to a vassal for life. He could own no property and needed the vassal's
permission to marry. Under no circumstance could a serf leave the land without the vassal's permission unless he chose to
run away. If he ran to a town and managed to stay there for a year and a day, he was a free man. However, the serf did
have rights. He could not be displaced if the manor changed hands. He could not be required to fight, and he was entitled
to the protection of the vassal. They worked long days, 6 days a week, and often barely had enough food to survive.
4. Why did the king divide up his land? Who have we discussed in class that did this?
5. This text didn’t say but who did the Bishop answer to?: The king or the pope? Why do you think this?
Who is more powerful?: The king or the Bishop? Why do you think this?
6. Describe the difference between a Baron and a vassal. Use textual evidence and explanation.
Feudalism
Unit 4/European Middle Ages
Mrs. Robinson
Name:____________________
Date: _____________________
7. Describe the difference between a peasant and a serf. Use textual evidence and explanation.
8. Using the information given, fill in the pyramid below, demonstrating the hierarchy of power the existed in the Feudal
System. Write the name of station and a very brief description of their role in the Feudal System. Pictures for each role
would be great but are optional. And note, there are only 4 spaces but you were given 5 roles. So, this means one role is
not included in the pyramid. Which one and why?
Feudalism
Unit 4/European Middle Ages
Mrs. Robinson
Name:____________________
Date: _____________________
In information below is about Manorialism, another system that worked alongside feudalism. Because of feudalism,
manorialism was able to exist and because of manorialism, feudalism was able to exist. Read the information and answer
the questions below
Manorialism was a political, economic, and social system by which the peasants of medieval Europe were rendered
dependent on their land and on their lord. Its basic unit was the manor, a self-sufficient landed estate, or fief, that was
under the control of a lord who enjoyed a variety of rights over it and the peasants attached to it by means of serfdom.
The manorial system was the most convenient device for organizing the estates of the aristocracy and the clergy in the
Middle Ages in Europe, and it made feudalism possible.
The typical western European manor in the 13th century consisted partly of the cottages, huts, and barns and gardens of
its peasants, which were usually clustered together to form a small village. There might also be a church, a mill, and a
wine or oil press in the village. Close by was the fortified dwelling, or manor house, of the lord, which might be inhabited
by him or merely by his steward if the lord happened to hold more than one manor. The village was surrounded by arable
land that was divided into three large fields that were farmed in rotation, with one allowed to lie fallow each year. There
were also usually meadows for supplying hay, pastures for livestock, pools and streams for fishing, and forests and waste
lands for wood gathering and foraging.
9. Describe a manor. Include a definition as well as what was in a manor.
10. How was a manor “self-sufficient” or able to support itself without outside help? How would this self-sufficiency
affect trade/commerce?