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Feudalism: a political system with small, local, and independent leaders (local lords)› The System:

Powerful nobles (Lord) grant land (fief) to lesser nobles (vassal)

Vassal promised loyalty, military assistance, and other services to the lord of the fief Vassals could further divide the land and grant it to

others such as knights, who would fight for them in war

A vassal could also be a lord

Fiefs became hereditary› Primogeniture: system of inheritance

from father to eldest son Women: generally did not control land,

but often had a fief as part of her dowry Kings: every land holder was a vassal

to the king, but only controlled those who lived on his feudal lands

The church: was part of the feudal system with their own fiefs and vassals

Common during the Middle Ages› Most were small, private fights between

feudal lords with a handful of knights› A few large conflicts involving entire

regions broke out Knights wore armor

Chain mail until gun powder was developed Later, overlapping metal plates were worn

Horses were large

Trial by Battle: a duel between accusers

Compurgation (Oath Taking): accuser supported by others who swore or took an oath of truth that the accuser was guilty/innocent

Trial by Ordeal: outcome of an ordeal determined the accused guilt/innocence

An economic system followed by people living on manors (large farming estates)› Farms were self-sufficient› A lord and several peasant families shared

the land of the manor The lord generally kept 1/3 of the land for his

home (domain) and peasant families gave the lord some of their crops as well as help farm the lord’s land.

Manor Villages› Usually located near a river or stream to

power the village mill Peasant Life (serfs)

› Life was difficult Serfs could not leave the land without

permission from the lord› Life expectancy was short (disease,

starvation, warfare)› Most peasants lived, worked, and died

where they were born.

Nobles’ Lifestyles› Today’s standard of living is better than kings

and queens of the middle ages (It wasn’t as glamorous as what is in the movies)

› A lord spent most of his days looking after his land and dispensing justice among vassals and serfs

› A lord or vassal depended on his wife and children for help.

› Marriage was viewed as a way to advance one’s fortune (dowry)

Early Middle Ages: built of earth and wood (Later: made of stone)

Usually built on hills or other places difficult to attack› A ditch or “moat” was dug around a castle

if only flat land was available (often filled with water) A draw bridge could be lowered across the

moat and raised for protection

“Keep”: main part of castle› Strong tower containing storerooms,

workshops, and perhaps barracks and the lord’s living quarters

Great Hall: place where the lord accepted visitors

Castles had thick walls with small windows and no glass

A code of conduct that dictated a knight’s behavior toward others.› To become a knight, a boy had to be born of

nobility› Boys first became a “page” or attendant for

a knight to learn to care for weapons› In teenage years a page became a squire or

full assistant to the knight› After proving himself in battle a squire would

become a knight in an elaborate ceremony

A symbol on the knight’s shield to distinguish himself from others

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