Do Now

• In your own words, define loyalty • Can you think of a situation in which

someone’s loyalty to you was very important or when you had to be loyal to someone?

Goals for today

Define important terms that are associated with feudalism

Explain the factors that led to the rise of Feudalism in Europe

Identify the roles of kings, lords, knights, and serfs in the Feudal System

Evaluate the Feudal system

PeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationPeriodizationEarly Middle Ages: 500 – 1000

High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 - 1500

Feudalism Feudalism • Political and social system based on

the granting of land in exchange for loyalty, military assistance, and other services

Europe in the 6cEurope in the 6cEurope in the 6cEurope in the 6c

Barbarian Invasions cause theFall of the Western Roman Empire

Rise ofNewKingdoms/States that are not united

New Kingdoms are unable to protect themselves fromBarbarianInvasions, causing a need for localized Protection

TheRise of Feudalism in Europe

The Middle Ages or Medieval Period

( 500 CE -1500 CE.)

Feudalism Feudalism • Developed

as a result of frequent invasions in western Europe

• Kings and nobles needed a way to protect their lands

Feudalism Feudalism

• Lords divided their lands into estates called fiefs

• Fiefs (land) given to vassals in return for loyalty and military support

• All nobles were vassals to the King

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What is a Knight?• Almost all nobles were knights• Training began at age 7, as a page,

under the guidance of the lady of the manor

• Became squires at age 15 and were trained by other knights

• Those deemed worthy were “dubbed” knights

Feudalism Feudalism • Knights –Mounted warriors

who protected lord’s lands

– Given land for their services

– Chivalry • Code of ethics

followed by knights • Honesty, fairness in

battle, loyal, proper treatment of women

•

Feudal ObligationsFeudal Obligations

• Provide military service• Remain loyal and

faithful • Give money on special

occasions

• Give Land• Protect from attack • Resolve disputes

between knights

Peasants and Serfs Peasants and Serfs • Serfs– Peasants who lived and

worked on the lord’s manor

– Were not allowed to leave the manor or marry without the lord’s permission

– Were allowed to farm on the manor in return for work

• Lords were required to protect the serfs

Life of SerfsLife of Serfs

• The life of a serf was harsh –Worked long hours– few lived past 35

years old– Based on heredity• You were a serf if you

parents were

Life of Serf Life of Serf • The Harshness of Manor Life

– Peasants pay taxes to use mill and bakery; pay a tithe to priest• Tithe—a church tax—is equal

to one-tenth of a peasant’s income

– Serfs live in crowded cottages with dirt floors, straw for beds

– Worked long hours• raising crops, livestock;

feeding and clothing family– Poor diet, illness, malnutrition

make life expectancy 35 years– Serfs generally accept their

lives as part of God’s plan

Manorial SystemManorial System

• Freemen – skilled workers

who paid rent to nobles and could leave the manor • Ex. Blacksmith and

millers

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Constructing the Pyramid Constructing the Pyramid Feudal PowerFeudal Power

SERFS AND FREEMEN

18

Constructing the Pyramid of Constructing the Pyramid of Feudal PowerFeudal Power

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

SERFS AND FREEMEN

19

Constructing the Pyramid of Constructing the Pyramid of Feudal PowerFeudal Power

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

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Constructing the Pyramid of Constructing the Pyramid of Feudal PowerFeudal Power

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

KING

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LANDLOYALTY ANDSERVICE

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

Carcassonne: A Carcassonne: A Medieval CastleMedieval CastleCarcassonne: A Carcassonne: A Medieval CastleMedieval Castle

Parts of a Parts of a Medieval CastleMedieval CastleParts of a Parts of a Medieval CastleMedieval Castle

Manorial SystemManorial System

• An economic system in the Middle Ages that was built around large estates called manors

• Included a village and the land surrounding it

Manorial SystemManorial System

• Manors were self sufficient – Most things needed for daily life were produced

on the manor

•