Feudalism

What is feudalism?

What is manorialism?

How is manorialism connected

to feudalism?

Vocabulary Terms

Manor – Central part of a nobles land • Manorialism – A

system based on self sufficient self sufficient farming estates where the lord and the peasants lived off the land together

Feudalism – political system based on an granting land in exchange for loyalty, and military assistance

Feudalism

An economic, political, and social system based on a An economic, political, and social system based on a relationship between the lord and his vassalsrelationship between the lord and his vassalsSure! What’s in it

for me?

Will you protect my

land and give me undying

loyalty?

The vassals would receive land in exchange for protecting the nobles The vassals would receive land in exchange for protecting the nobles estateestate

How

Feu

dalism

W

ork

s:

WealthyLandowner

WealthyLandowner

WarriorProtected landin exchange forland

Owned land – Powerful – provided Guidance for the people

a.k.a. “Serfs” – worked The land – belonged to the Land – not necessarily the noble

The ManorThe Manor

Lord’s House/ Castle

Church

Serfs in the field

Peasant’s House

Nobles House or

Castle

Main part of th

e noble’s land was called a

Main part of th

e noble’s land was called a

““manormanor””

The house was a fortified building or castle or The house was a fortified building or castle or a wooden house surrounded by fortified wallsa wooden house surrounded by fortified walls

Surrounding the castle was the Surrounding the castle was the lord’s estate which was mostly lord’s estate which was mostly covered with farmlandcovered with farmland

Knights

Code of Chivalry• Vassals • Lived by a code of honor –

Chivalry– Defend the Catholic Church– Protect women and the weak– Fight injustice– Show courage in every battle

• Used weapons such as battering rams, catapults, siege towers, etc.

Economy

The land provided most of the things they needed

As a result, most activity from farming to wood working, to wine making took place on the manor – few people ever left the manor

The Church

Christianity played an important role in the Middle Ages

Most feudal manors were equipped with a church for worship

The Peasants

The serfs were bound to the land which meant that they were considered part of the property. They remained with the land even if a new lord acquired the manor

Legacy of Feudalism• Loyalty and honor remain strong in European

armies• Class structure still in existence in some countries• Surnames, or family names – families took their

names from their jobs – Baker, Carpenter, Cook, Taylor (tailor)

• Structures still standing – churches, castles, etc.• Institutions still remain strong – Catholic Church