What causes Feudalism to develop in Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire
After the barbarian invasions, it was no longer safe to stay in cities. Rather than become the next target, many
former city dwellers moved to the countryside for work, protection and a new beginning.
Dark & Middle Ages
The Middle Ages were a dark age for Europe. Near constant invasions and scant resources required that
Europeans develop a new system for living. This system included all aspects of life, social, political, and
economic. It was called Feudalism.
Feudalism & Manorialism
Feudalism was a social and political system that dominated all aspects of medieval life. The economic portion
of feudalism was centered around the lord's estates or manor, and is called manorialism. A lord's manor would
include peasant villages, a church, farm land, a mill, and the lord's castle or manor house.
Manors were self-sufficient; all economic activity occurred on the manor. This meant that little to no trade
occurred during this time period. Most of the peasants during the Middle Ages were serfs. Serfs were generally
farmers who were tied to the land. They were not slaves because they could not be bought or sold, but they
could not readily leave the manor either. Serfs were given land to farm in exchange for service to their lord.
This service usually involved working the lord's fields, maintaining roads and the manor, and providing military
service in times of war. Serfs paid taxes to their lord in the form of crops. This is also how the paid the fee to
use the manor's mill or other services.
The lords had responsibilities also under this system. In return for the service and fees paid by the peasants, they
provided land and protection to them. Lords also had to pay fees and give service to high lords and the king.
Feudalism affected all levels of society.
Social Breakdown

Pope
o
o
o

Kings
o
o
o




Head of the Catholic Church
Gives king authority to rule
In exchange for loyalty, provides the kings military support
Give large land grants to Upper Lords called fiefs
Give Protection
Receives money, military service, and advice
Upper Lords / Vassals / Nobels
o Give land grants to Lesser Lords
o Give Protection
o Receives money, military service
Knights
o Give land to peasants/serfs
o Receives crops, labor
Merchants / Craftsmen
o Provided Specialized Goods to the Knights / Nobels / Lords
Peasants / Serfs
o Receives land to farm
o Pays with labor, crops
Pyramid of Power in Middle Ages Worksheet
Student name:
Fit the following roles into the appropriate place on the Pyramid of Power for a Feudal Kingdom in Medieval
Europe:
Vassals
Peasants
Merchants
Serfs
Monarch
Farmers
Nobles
Pope/Church
Craftsmen
Knights
Directions: Circle the word that best completes each sentence:
1. The (lady, monarch, serf) was the supreme ruler at the top of the feudalism social structure.
2. A (knight, serf, lady) was someone who farmed the land owned by the lords.
3. A man who devoted his life to religion was called a (monk, nun, monarch).
4. A trained warrior in the third level in the feudalism pyramid was called a
(knight, monarch, lord).
5. Define Feudalism:
6. Define Manorialism:____________________________________________________
7. Did the Manorial system rely on trade?_______________________________________
8. (Feudalism/Manorialism) is the system of social and political control in the Middle Ages..
9.