Feudal Society

Ch 24

Three Important Groups

Clergy Nobles Peasants

Who has the power?

• Power was based on land ownership

King owned all the land

Charles Martel rewarded

soldiers with land

(fiefs/estates)

Land ownership became tied to military service

How the nobles got their power…

Weak kings depended on nobles for food and horses

Nobles grew more powerful than the king and became

independent rulers

Peasants became tied to nobles as

they worked their land and turned to them for protection

Lord and VassalI’m a less powerful noble. I swear to serve you and help you in battle. If your family celebrates a big event, I will give you money. If you are held hostage, I will pay your ransom.

I’m the most powerful noble. In return for your allegiance, I will give you a fief (estate) and the right to govern the people who live in your fief. Don’t forget our monthly meetings!

Vassal Lord

The Home of a Noble

Manor House• Wooden building• Palisade – wooden

fence• One big room• Straw-covered floors• Ate with their hands

Castle• Fortress with stone

walls• Drawbridge• Portcullis• Keep• Housed many people

Life as a Noble

Noblemen• Ran estate• Hunted and fished• Held court (parties)• Played chess• Listened to minstrels

Ladies• Under authority of her

husband• Arranged marriages• Married between age 12-21• Helped husbands run estate• Raised children• Took care of household• Cared for sick

Knighthood

• Nobles could be knights – warriors on horseback

• Expected to follow a Code of Chivalry– Obey his Lord– Respect women– Help people in trouble– Be honest– Fight fairly

Knight’s Training

PageBegan at 7 years oldHelped knights take care of armor and horses

SquirePromoted at 15 years oldWent into battle with the knight

KnightGood squires were promoted to knightsCeremony was called dubbing

Tournaments

• Contests of strength, skill, and endurance• Festive occasions that drew large audiences• Favorite event was the joust• Expensive and potentially deadly, but very popular

Life on the Manor

• Land divided into manors, or farming communities

• Lord appointed officials to carry out his orders– Seneschal: visited fiefs and looked after them– Bailiff: made sure peasants worked hard

• Lord lived in manor house or castle• Peasants lived in wood and dirt cottages with

thatched roofs• See diagram on page 368

Freemen and Serfs

Freemen• Peasants who paid the lord

for the right to work the land

• Still served the lord

Serfs• Belonged to the lord• Worked for the lord• No freedom