Do Now
• In your own words, define loyalty
• Can you think of a situation in which
someone’s loyalty to you was very important
or when you had to be loyal to someone?
Goals for today
Define important terms that are associated with
feudalism
Explain the factors that led to the rise of
Feudalism in Europe
Identify the roles of kings, lords, knights, and
serfs in the Feudal System
Evaluate the Feudal system
Periodization
Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250
Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500
Feudalism
• Political and social system based on the
granting of land in exchange for loyalty,
military assistance, and other services
Europe in the 6c
The Middle Ages or Medieval Period
( 500 CE -1500 CE.)
Barbarian
Invasions
cause the
Fall of the
Western
Roman
Empire
Rise of
New
Kingdoms/
States
that are
not united
New
Kingdoms
are unable
to protect
themselves
from
Barbarian
Invasions,
causing a
need for
localized
Protection
The
Rise of
Feudalism
in Europe
Feudalism
• Developed
as a result
of frequent
invasions in
western
Europe
• Kings and
nobles
needed a
way to
protect
their lands
Feudalism
• Lords divided their
lands into estates
called fiefs
• Fiefs (land) given to
vassals in return for
loyalty and military
support
• All nobles were
vassals to the King
What is a Knight?
• Almost all nobles were knights
• Training began at age 7, as a page,
under the guidance of the lady of the
manor
• Became squires at age 15 and were
trained by other knights
• Those deemed worthy were
“dubbed” knights
9
Feudalism
• Knights
– Mounted warriors who
protected lord’s lands
– Given land for their
services
– Chivalry
• Code of ethics followed
by knights
• Honesty, fairness in
battle, loyal, proper
treatment of women
•
Feudal Obligations
• Provide military service
• Remain loyal and faithful
• Give money on special
occasions
• Give Land
• Protect from attack
• Resolve disputes between
knights
Peasants and Serfs
• Serfs
– Peasants who lived and
worked on the lord’s
manor
– Were not allowed to
leave the manor or marry
without the lord’s
permission
– Were allowed to farm on
the manor in return for
work
• Lords were required to
protect the serfs
Life of Serfs
• The life of a serf was
harsh
– Worked long hours
– few lived past 35
years old
– Based on heredity
• You were a serf if you
parents were
Life of Serf
• The Harshness of Manor Life
– Peasants pay taxes to use mill
and bakery; pay a tithe to priest
• Tithe—a church tax—is equal to
one-tenth of a peasant’s income
– Serfs live in crowded cottages
with dirt floors, straw for beds
– Worked long hours
• raising crops, livestock;
feeding and clothing family
– Poor diet, illness, malnutrition
make life expectancy 35 years
– Serfs generally accept their lives
as part of God’s plan
Manorial System
• Freemen
– skilled workers who
paid rent to nobles
and could leave the
manor
• Ex. Blacksmith and
millers
Constructing the Pyramid Feudal
Power
SERFS AND FREEMEN
17
Constructing the Pyramid of Feudal
Power
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
18
Constructing the Pyramid of
Feudal Power
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
19
Constructing the Pyramid of
Feudal Power
KING
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
20
Carcassonne: A Medieval Castle
Parts of a Medieval Castle
Manorial System
• An economic
system in the
Middle Ages that
was built around
large estates
called manors
• Included a village
and the land
surrounding it
Manorial System
• Manors were self sufficient
– Most things needed for daily life were produced on
the manor
•