Feudalism and Manorialism
In this lesson, students will be able to define
and explain the following terms:
Feudalism
Manorialism
Lords
Vassals
Serfs
Fiefs
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The fall of Rome
in 476 A.D. altered
the map of Europe.
The once great
empire was
replaced by
hundreds of little
kingdoms.
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Collapse of Central Government
• During the Roman Empire, there was a
central government. It made laws and had
armies to protect people.
• However, with the fall of Rome, the central
government collapsed.
• Hundreds of little kingdoms governed in its
place.
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After the fall of Rome, the empire was
divided among the various Barbarian tribes.
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Increased Warfare
• The new kingdoms frequently fought in an
attempt to acquire more land.
• This increased fighting frightened people
and encouraged people to think of new
ways of protecting themselves.
• New political and economic systems
developed.
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The
Early
Middle
Ages
was a
dangerous
time.
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Peasants Needed Protection
• Peasants were frightened.
• They turned to landowners for protection.
• Peasants offered their labor in exchange
for protection.
• These peasants were called serfs.
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It was a dangerous
time to be a
peasant. Poor
people turned
to rich landowners
with armies for
protection.
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Serfs
• A serf was “bound to the land.”
• He could not leave his lord’s land.
• He was not a slave because he could not
be sold.
• But he was not free because he could not
leave.
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People who owned land
were called lords.
Lords gave land to lesser
lords called vassals.
A vassal had to obey
his lord and give military
service and loyalty to
his lord.
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Feudalism
• Feudalism was the political and military
system of the Middle Ages.
• In a feudal society, land is exchanged for
military service and loyalty.
• The ownership of land was the basis or
power.
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A fief was all of the
Lord’s land. The
manor was part
of the fief. The
manor was the part
of the fief where
the peasants farmed
and the people lived.
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Manorialism
• Manorialism was the economic system of
the Middle Ages.
• Manorialism is a self-sufficient economy.
• Everything that is necessary for life is
created on the manor.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Why did peasants need protection after
the fall of Rome?
• Why were serfs willing to offer their labor
to lords?
• What was the relationship between lords
and vassals?
• Define feudalism and manorialism.
• How does manorialism differ from our
economic system?
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