Feudalism & the Manorial System

C13 S2 pp. 294 - 299

Objectives

• Explore how feudalism helped shape political & social development in Europe during the Middle Ages

• Identify the ways in which the manorial system influenced economic growth in Europe during the Middle Ages

Feudalism

• The system – Lords- powerful nobles who granted land (fief) to lesser

nobles in return for loyalty & military assistance– Vassals- did not own land; could further divide his land

(knights)– Primogeniture – fief became hereditary, passed from vassal

to eldest son

Feudalism (cont)

• Warfare – private fights between feudal lords– Nobles- potential wealth & glory– Most people- wars caused great suffering &

hardship

Feudalism (cont)

• Feudal justice – Trial by battle- duel

between accuser & accused

– Oath taking- people swore the accuser/accused was telling the truth

• Character witness– Trial by ordeal- accused

underwent “ordeals” such as plunging hand in boiling water, immersion in cold water, carrying a piece of hot iron, etc

• If wounds healed quickly, person was innocent

Manorial System• Manors were large, self-sufficient

farming estates shared by lords & peasants– Included manor houses, cultivated lands,

woodlands, pastures, fields, & villages

The Manorial System

• Peasant life – serfs led very difficult lives– Lords kept 1/3 of the land for himself,

peasants farmed remaining 2/3s• Gave crops, helped farm, & paid taxes

– Could not leave land without lord’s permission

The Manorial System (cont)

• Nobles’ lifestyles – castle was the fortified base– Not luxurious; chilly rooms with thick walls &

small windows with no glass

The Manorial System (cont)

• Chivalry – rules that dictated knights’ behavior– Page > Squire >

Knight– Expected to be

courageous, fair, loyal, honest, gallant, & courteous to women

Travel Agents

• Imagine that they work for a time travel agency. You need to develop a brochure explaining feudalism and the manorial system to travelers who wish to visit medieval Europe.

• Brochures should include the following: – definitions of terms, such as vassal, fief, and lord – information about feudal justice and warfare– a brief note about chivalry

• Include illustrations and graphic organizers to help clarify the system of feudalism

• A graphic representation of the feudal hierarchy would be particularly helpful.

• The purpose of your brochure is to prepare travelers to exist within the political system they will encounter during their expedition.

Your Coat of Arms

• Your coat of arms should symbolize you as person– Consider past events, people, places, or

animals that are significant to you– Also you should consider symbols that will

represent qualities/characteristics from the code of chivalry you possess

Colors

•  Gold- Generosity and elevation of the mind• Silver or White- Peace and sincerity• Red- Warrior or martyr; Military strength• Blue- Truth and loyalty• Green- Hope, joy, and loyalty in love• Black- Constancy or grief• Purple- Royal majesty, sovereignty, and justice• Orange- Worthy ambition• Maroon- Patient in battle, and yet victorious

THE CHURCHC13, S3 pp. 300-303

Objectives

• Describe how the church hierarchy fit into society

• Explain how the practices of monasticism changed

• Explore how the church influenced life in medieval Europe

The Church Hierarchy

The medieval church had widespread political power

I. The church had a highly structured hierarchya) Parish priests were lowest in rank, but could administer

sacraments

b) Bishops managed a group of parishes called a diocese

c) Archbishops had authority over all the bishops of the archdiocese

d) Cardinals (Curia) advised pope on legal and spiritual matters

e) Pope held supreme authority in the church

Monasticism

II. Monks and nuns believed that they had to withdraw from the world and its temptations to live a Christian life

a) Monks and nuns lived in isolated communities

b) They chose to serve God through fasting, prayer, and self-denial.

c) Spent most of their days in prayer

d) The Benedictine Rule – rules to govern monk’s lives

The Church & Medieval LifeIII. Church rules and laws affected both the clergy and

the parisha) The church had its own code of law, called canon law, and its own courts

b) Church punishment might be excommunication, which is being thrown out of the churchc) The church could issue an interdict against an entire region, which would close the region’s churches and prohibit the performance of marriages, burials, and other sacraments there.d) Parishioners paid tithes, or 1/10th of their income to the church.

The Church & Medieval Life (Cont)

e) Political role – pope was political & religious leader

f) Economic & social role – some monasteries were involved in trade

IV. Problems of the church:a) Lay investiture- practice of noble, such as a king

appointing a friend or relative to be a bishop or abbot

b) Simony- practice of buying high church positions

V. Effects of the Church

a) Positive

Provided leadership that the governments of the time could not

b)Negative

The church’s great wealth and influence led to internal corruption