Feudalism

The Emergence of FeudalismThe Emergence of Feudalism

InvasionsInvasionsVikings, Vikings,

Muslims, Muslims, MagyarsMagyarsKings and emperors Kings and emperors were too weak to were too weak to maintain law and maintain law and order. order.

The Emergence of Feudalism

• People looked to People looked to local landlords or local landlords or nobles to provide nobles to provide security security

• In this system the In this system the lord of the manor is lord of the manor is like a mini-king.like a mini-king.

How feudalism works…How feudalism works…

Under the Under the feudal feudal system, system, everyone everyone had a well-had a well-defined defined place in place in society.society.

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle Rier, NJ. All rights reserved.

Feudalism is…

• It is a political system based on one’s It is a political system based on one’s social class and ability to perform one’s social class and ability to perform one’s duty. duty. – FIEFS the land and peasants (to work the FIEFS the land and peasants (to work the

land), was given to warriors, counts, and land), was given to warriors, counts, and local officialslocal officials

– LORD the noble who gives the land and LORD the noble who gives the land and promises to protect the vassalpromises to protect the vassal

– VASSAL the person who receives the land VASSAL the person who receives the land and promises loyalty and military serviceand promises loyalty and military service

Workers on the Manor• There were two groups of peasant

workers on the manor• Freemen- skilled workers who paid

rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.)

• Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they were the noble’s property.)

Obligations of Peasant LifeObligations of Peasant Life

•Give Lord part of crops, Give Lord part of crops, traditionally took about 50% traditionally took about 50%

•Work on his land Work on his land (Domain) (Domain)

•Pay Taxes or Rent Pay Taxes or Rent (How lord (How lord survived)survived)

• From the word “manor”• Manorialism was the

economic foundation of feudal society

• By 800 AD, nearly 60% of western Europe was enserfed (was a serf)

• Center of manorial life was the village church

• Life was short and frightening for peasants

• Village life was hierarchical, very communal and local

Manorialism

Manors

Stokesay Castle (well preserved

manor), UK

Feudal Contract

LORDS

VASSALS

GIVEPROTECTION TO

GIVE SERVICE TO

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER

SERFS AND FREEMEN

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

SERFS AND FREEMEN

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

SERFS AND FREEMEN

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

KING

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LANDLOYALTY ANDSERVICE

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

REVIEW

1) Everyone owed loyalty to the ________

2) _______ were powerful. 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.

Let’s see how much you remember!

Check Your Answers• Everyone owed loyalty to the king.• Nobles were powerful. They got land

from the king.• Lesser nobles (knights) gave military

service in return for land.• Serfs were bound to the land. They

worked in return for protection.• Freemen were skilled workers. They

paid rent to the nobles and were free to move if they wanted to.

THE ENDHISTO

RY

NOTES