EUROPEAN FEUDALISM IN THE

MIDDLE AGES

Mr. Hernandez

Centralized vs. Decentralized Governments A centralized government

is a government that has put all power and responsibility in the hands of one person. This works best in a small

nation A decentralized

government spreads the responsibility and power among more people. This type of government

works best in a large nation.

Class Systems A class system is

a way to divide people in society.

A social class is a large group within society having common economic, cultural, or political status.

Feudalism The political, military, and social system

in the Middle Ages, based on a trade-off between social classes

The higher classes traded land (fief) and in return, they were given protection, loyalty, and military support.

This system is very decentralized

Feudalism This system came after the barbarians took over

much of Europe after the Fall of Rome because Rome was too big for one ruler to lead.

Charlemagne was a king after the Fall, and he introduced a decentralized government because he realized Rome fell partly because there was too much land for one person to control.

After Charlemagne was defeated Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims, Europe became totally decentralized and the system of feudalism was created.

Roles of Classes in Feudalism Monarch

This person is the ruler and owner of a large kingdom. This person is usually a man and needed help to

protect their kingdom This person rules through the “divine right” where they

believe God gave them the right to rule Lords

This person owns a large area of land that was given to him from the king (fief) in return for protection

This person would help supply an army to the king when needed.

These people were able to make the rules on their land

Role of Classes in Feudalism Lesser Lords/Vassals

These people were given land (fiefs) from lords and in return, they had to supply knights and protection to the lords

KnightsThese people provided security and protection for a lord or

kingThey wore full suits of armor and had to go through stages

of being a page and squire.This person also had to follow a code of behavior called

chivalry which made them just, fair, protect the helpless, and respect women

Roles of Classes in Feudalism Peasants

These people might have owned or rented landThese people worked as a farmer or in a special

job like blacksmith, shoemaker, or carpenterWomen in this group mainly cared for their

children and homes Serfs

These people were “bound to the land” and could not leave (like slaves)

These people had to farm all day and work very hard.

These people paid high taxes to lords.

Roles of Men and Women in Feudalism Men mainly worked on the land or

worked in a trade as a carpenter, blacksmith, or shoemaker

Women mainly stayed at home to care for the home and children. Some peasant women were able to farm, but only if their labor was much needed.

EUROPEAN FEUDALISM IN THE

MIDDLE AGES

Mr. Hernandez

Centralized vs. Decentralized Governments A centralized government

is a government that has puts ____ power and _____________ in the hands of one person. This works best in a

_______ nation A decentralized

government _______ the responsibility and power among ______ people. This type of government

works best in a ________nation.

Class Systems A class system is

a way to _______ people in society.

A social class is a large _______ within society having ________ economic, cultural, or political status.

Feudalism The political, military, and social system

in the Middle Ages, based on a ________ between social classes

The higher classes traded ______ (fief) and in return, they were given ________, ________, and __________.

This system is very decentralized

Feudalism This system came after the ________ took over

much of Europe after the _____________ because Rome was too big for _____ ruler to lead.

____________ was a king after the Fall, and he introduced a _______________________ because he realized _______ fell partly because there was too much land for ______ person to control.

After Charlemagne was defeated by the __________, _________, _________ Europe became totally ____________ and the system of ____________ was created.

Roles of Classes in Feudalism Monarch

This person is the ______ and owner of a large _________. This person is usually a _____ and needed help to

_______their kingdom This person rules through the “______________” where they

believe _____ gave them the right to rule Lords

This person owns a __________ area of land that was given to him from the king (_______) in return for _________.

This person would help supply an _______ to the king when needed.

These people were able to make the _________ on their land

Role of Classes in Feudalism Lesser Lords/Vassals

These people were given _______ (fiefs) from lords and in return, they had to supply _________ and protection to the lords

KnightsThese people provided _________ and ________ for a lord

or kingThey wore full suits of _______ and had to go through

___________ of being a page and squire.This person also had to follow a ____________ called

_________ which made them just, fair, protect the helpless, and respect women

Roles of Classes in Feudalism Peasants

These people might have _________ or ________ land

These people worked as a _________ or in a ________ job like blacksmith, shoemaker, or carpenter

_______ in this group mainly cared for their children and homes

SerfsThese people were “_________________” and could

not leave (like __________)These people had to ________ all day and work

very hard.These people paid high ___________ to lords.

Roles of Men and Women in Feudalism ________mainly worked on the land or

worked in a ________ as a carpenter, blacksmith, or shoemaker

_________mainly stayed at home to care for the ___________. Some peasant women were able to _______, but only if their labor was much needed.