• 1/8/14 Focus:
-Feudalism is a form of government that started in
the middle ages.
-Feudalism only occurs when there is a weak central
government because the king ends up giving away some
of his land
• Do Now:
– Why was the Early Middle Ages known as
the Dark Ages?
The Middle Ages
Feudalism
Manor System
Medieval Society
• Kings and Queens
• Rulers
• Nobility
• Lords and Knights
• Controlled the land
• Clergy
• Church officials
• Peasants
• Majority of the
population
• Worked the land and
served the nobles
Feudalism
• Political and social system based on the
granting of land in exchange for loyalty,
military assistance, and other services
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
– A person granted
land in return for
loyalty or military
service
• All nobles were
vassals to the king
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
Constructing the Pyramid Feudal
Power
SERFS AND FREEMEN
10
Constructing the Pyramid of Feudal
Power
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
11
Constructing the Pyramid of
Feudal Power
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
12
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
13
Closure
• Explain why feudalism developed in
western Europe.
• What was a knight’s obligation to the lord?
• What was the lord’s obligation to the
knight?
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
•
Manorial System
• 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
Manorial System
• 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
Manorial System
• 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
Manorial System
Let’s see how much you remember!
1) Everyone owed loyalty to the ________
2) Nobles were near the top of the social
hierarchy . They got _______ from the king.
3) Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________
_________ in return for land
4) _______ were bound to the land. They worked
in return for ____________.
5) __________ were skilled workers. They paid
rent to the ______ and were free to move if
they wanted to.
22
Check Your Answers
1) Everyone owed loyalty to the king.
2) Nobles were near the top of the social
hierarchy. They got land from the
king.
3) Lesser nobles (knights) gave military
service in return for land.
4) Serfs were bound to the land. They
worked in return for protection.
5) Freemen were skilled workers. They
paid rent to the nobles and were free
to move if they wanted to.
Closure
• What was the Manorial System
• How were manors self sufficient?
• Explain why feudalism developed in
western Europe.