Middle AgesFeudalism and the Manor Economy

Lesson 4

Agenda• Essential Question: Was feudalism a fair economic system?• Goals - Students will be able to describe the differing orders

of medieval society and the role of the serf in manor life and determine if it was a fair economic system.

• Tasks– PLEASE DO NOW: Take out homework (8.2 notes) & any classwork

you have not handed in – Review homework– Power Point– Feudalism Activity– Extension: video clip of Really Gross Jobs of the Middle Ages

• Homework – Guided Reading section 8.2 & Viewpoint worksheets due next class

Vocabulary:Manor Serf

Responsibilities• Worked the manor several days/week• Repaired roads, bridges, fences• Paid lord fees

–marriage– inheritance–mill–holiday

Entitlements• Right to farm land for themselves• Received the lord’s protection

Serfs, Peasants, VilleinsManorialism a system of political, economic, and social relations between lords and their dependent farm laborers

Feudalism Activity1. Each student pulls a label out of the bag and wears it2. Peasants sit in groups with their lord and vassals (A or B)3. Vassals pledge loyalty to lords and lords pledge loyalty to

king"I promise on my faith that I will in the future be faithful to the lord, never cause him harm and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit."

4. Each peasant receives a paper cup; each noble/vassal receives a bowl

5. Each peasant takes 10 candies6. Each vassal takes 8 candies from each peasant, keeps 3

from each peasant, and gives the rest to his/her lord7. Each lord keeps 10 pieces from each vassal and gives the

rest to the king

King

Noble A

Vassal A

Peasant A

Peasant A

Peasant A

Vassal A

Noble B

Vassal B Vassal B

Peasant B Peasant B Peasant B

Was feudalism fair?

Did the peasants think so?– Why or why not?

Homework

– Guided Reading 8.2 and Viewpoint worksheets due next class

Peasant’s Daily Life

• Simple Diet• Lived in the village

in one room huts with their livestock

• Justice – Trial by Ordeal

• Mixture of Beliefs