Middle Ages: Feudalism

Madnick/Global Studies 9

The Fall of Rome left a huge power vacuum in Western Europe

• Something had to replace social, political, and economic systems that were destroyed

• The new systems were called…..1. Feudalism (850)2. The Church (750)3. Manorialism (750)

Absence of power or gov’t control

Feudalism--Definition

• Social/political system based on ownership of land, military service to one’s superior, and loyalty between rulers and the ruled

• Replaced Roman government in WE by 850

Feudalism

• Kings gave land to nobles• Nobles gave land to knights• Land was called a manor or a fief• Anyone who received land was called a vassal• Everyone was a vassal to the king

European Feudalism

lords

Vassals

Japanese Feudalism

Emperor

Shogun

Daimyo

Samurai

Peasants

European FeudalismGive GetKING

LORDS/ Vassals

KNIGHTS/ Vassals

PEASANTS / SERFS / VILLEINS

Land and peasants

Land, peasants, protection

Land to farm, food, shelter, protection

Food, taxes, military service

Military service, loyalty

Military service, loyalty

Kingdom of the Franks

• Most powerful kingdom of the Middle Ages, WE

• Franks were united under Clovis

• Converted to Christianity, 496

• Effect: many others converted and Chr. diffused through WE

Modern day France

Kingdom of the Franks

• Charles Martel• AKA “The Hammer”• defeated Muslim forces at

the Battle of Tours, 732, southern France

• Effect: stopped diffusion of Islam into WE

Charles Martel—”The Hammer” Defeated Muslim armies at the Battle of Tours, 732 southern France

Kingdom of the Franks

• Charlemagne• “Charles the Great”• united all Germanic tribes

into a single Christian kingdom in WE, 760

• Effect: filled power vacuum left by fall of Rome…

until his kingdom collapsed

Charlemagne• Pope Leo named him “Holy

Roman Emperor,” 800• Problem!!!!• If Pope had power to give a

crown, did he also have power to take it away?

• Effect: Kings and popes fight over who has power in the Middle Ages

List Dates and Events for Timeline Project

Dates Events

Review Questions1. After the Fall of Rome, ___________________ emerged as a new economic system.2. __________________ emerged as the new social and political system.3. Three features of feudalism are ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. A vassal was ___________________________________________________________5. In European feudalism, which groups gave land?________________________________________________________________________6. In European feudalism, which groups gave military service?________________________________________________________________________7. What was the effect of Clovis’ conversion to Christianity? _______________________________________________________________________________________________8. What was the effect of the Battle of Tours?___________________________________9. How did Charlemagne fill the power vacuum left after the fall of Rome? ___________________________________________________________________________________10. What problem arose between kings and popes during the Middle Ages?

_____________________________________________________________________