Feudalism of the Middle AgesFeudalism of the Middle Ages

SOL WHI 9 SOL WHI 9

What is feudalism?What is feudalism?

After the death of Charlemagne, organized After the death of Charlemagne, organized government disappearedgovernment disappeared

Europe became ruled by independent Europe became ruled by independent leadersleaders

This political organization is known as the This political organization is known as the Feudal SystemFeudal System or or FeudalismFeudalism – – relationship between lords and vassals. relationship between lords and vassals. People entered into the feudal contract for People entered into the feudal contract for protection.protection.

The Structure of FeudalismThe Structure of Feudalism

KingAnd

Queen

Church OfficialsAnd Nobles

Knights

Peasants

Social GroupsSocial GroupsNobles - LordsNobles - Lords– Granted land to a lesser noble while retaining Granted land to a lesser noble while retaining

ownershipownership– This allowed the lesser noble the ability to maintain This allowed the lesser noble the ability to maintain

their householdtheir household– The grant of the land was called a The grant of the land was called a fieffief– The person who received the land was called a The person who received the land was called a

vassalvassal– Vassals could further divide the land and become a Vassals could further divide the land and become a

lordlord

The system cont…The system cont…- A - A Count Count was a nobleman in charge was a nobleman in charge

of an area of land called a countyof an area of land called a county- The lord’s messenger – “- The lord’s messenger – “missi dominicimissi dominici” were men ” were men sent out to local districts to ensure that the counts were sent out to local districts to ensure that the counts were carrying out the kings’ wishes.carrying out the kings’ wishes.

- The fiefs became hereditary- The fiefs became hereditary

-Primogenitur-Primogeniture is the system of inheritance from father to e is the system of inheritance from father to eldest soneldest son

- Essentially, every landholder was a vassal to the King- Essentially, every landholder was a vassal to the King

- But, the King only controlled those living on - But, the King only controlled those living on his feudal his feudal landslands

Rights of WomenRights of Women

Women had limited Women had limited property rightsproperty rights– Woman may have Woman may have

fiefs in her fiefs in her dowrydowry– With marriage, her With marriage, her

husband gained husband gained control of the dowrycontrol of the dowry

Feudal JusticeFeudal Justice

Three kinds of feudal trialsThree kinds of feudal trials– Trial by battleTrial by battle

Determined by the outcome of the duelDetermined by the outcome of the duel– Compurgation (oath taking)Compurgation (oath taking)

Accused and accuser were supported by Accused and accuser were supported by people who swore their side was telling the people who swore their side was telling the truthtruth

– Trial by ordealTrial by ordeal

Determined by how the accused survived a Determined by how the accused survived a particular ordeal (ex. Immersion in cold particular ordeal (ex. Immersion in cold water)water)

Medieval ManorsMedieval Manors

ManorsManors were large farming estates that were large farming estates that included manor houses, cultivated lands, included manor houses, cultivated lands, woodlands, pastures, fields, and villageswoodlands, pastures, fields, and villages

No central authority or organized tradeNo central authority or organized trade

How did they get what they needed?How did they get what they needed?

Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency

Manors were forced to be Manors were forced to be self sufficientself sufficient– They produced everything they neededThey produced everything they needed– Items like iron, salt, wood, wine, and other Items like iron, salt, wood, wine, and other

manufactured goods were purchasedmanufactured goods were purchased– Land of the manor was shared by a lord and Land of the manor was shared by a lord and

several peasant familiesseveral peasant families– About one-third of land was kept for the lord, About one-third of land was kept for the lord,

while the rest was farmed by the peasantswhile the rest was farmed by the peasants

Manor VillagesManor Villages

Peasants gave the lord some of their Peasants gave the lord some of their crops and helped farm his landcrops and helped farm his land

They also paid many taxesThey also paid many taxes

Most manor villages were located along a Most manor villages were located along a stream or a riverstream or a river

Two of the three fields were cultivated, Two of the three fields were cultivated, while the other was fallow to regain its while the other was fallow to regain its fertilitiyfertilitiy

Medieval MapMedieval Map

The Life of a PeasantThe Life of a Peasant

Spent long hours in the fieldsSpent long hours in the fields

Most Most serfsserfs could not leave the land could not leave the land without the permission of the lordwithout the permission of the lord– Could not hunt on the lord’s property or afford Could not hunt on the lord’s property or afford

to raise their own animals, so they rarely ate to raise their own animals, so they rarely ate meatmeat

– Life expectancy was very short because of Life expectancy was very short because of diet, warfare, disease, and starvationdiet, warfare, disease, and starvation

NoblesNobles

The upper class of the Middle ages did not The upper class of the Middle ages did not live in luxurylive in luxuryCastles were bases for the lord to enforce Castles were bases for the lord to enforce authority and protect the countrysideauthority and protect the countrysideCastles built on hillsCastles built on hillsMoats were built around Castles on flat Moats were built around Castles on flat landland– These protected it and drawbridges allowed These protected it and drawbridges allowed

access to castle over the flooded moatsaccess to castle over the flooded moats

Nobles cont.Nobles cont.

A “keep” was the main building of the A “keep” was the main building of the castle and was used as a storeroom, castle and was used as a storeroom, workshop, and lord’s living quartersworkshop, and lord’s living quarters

Men acquired land through marriageMen acquired land through marriage

ChivalryChivalryChivalryChivalry: a code of conduct: a code of conductDictated knights’ behavior toward othersDictated knights’ behavior toward othersChivalry comes from the French word Chivalry comes from the French word cheval, meaning horse, because knights cheval, meaning horse, because knights were mounted soldierswere mounted soldiersKnights were expected to be courageous Knights were expected to be courageous in battle and fight fairlyin battle and fight fairlyAlso, be loyal, treat his conquered foes Also, be loyal, treat his conquered foes gallantly, and be courteous to women and gallantly, and be courteous to women and the less powerfulthe less powerful

How do I become a Knight?How do I become a Knight?

Knights had to belong to a noble class and Knights had to belong to a noble class and pass two stages of trainingpass two stages of training– Stage 1: age of seven when a boy would be a Stage 1: age of seven when a boy would be a

knight’s page, or attendantknight’s page, or attendant– Stage 2: knight’s assistant, or squireStage 2: knight’s assistant, or squire

He would take care of the knight’s horse, He would take care of the knight’s horse, armor, and weaponsarmor, and weapons