Feudal EuropeFeudal Europe

Medieval European Medieval European Society Society

The fall of the Roman Empire leads to a time of chaos in Europe:– No central authority– Constant warfare– Decline in learning &

trade– Smaller kingdoms– Increased power of

the Church Most people reverted Most people reverted

to farmingto farming

FeudalismFeudalism A political & social

system based on military service & protection.

It worked because ALL needed the system in order to survive.

The concept of vassalage provided the structure.

KING

LORDS (VASSALS TO KING)

KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS)

Fief and Peasants

Military Aid

Food Protection Shelter

Food Protection Shelter

PEASANTS (SERFS)Pay Rent

Fief and Peasants

Food Protection Shelter

Farm the Land

Homage Military Service

Loyalty

Cooperation & Mutual

Obligations

FEUDALISM: POLITICAL SYSTEM

MANORIALISM: ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Kings & Royalty Highest position Controlled large

amounts of land Provided fiefs (land)

to nobles in exchange for loyalty & service

Lived in a Castle– Wooden strongholds at

first– By 1100, made of

stone

Nobles & LordsNobles & Lords Owned their fief & everything on itOwned their fief & everything on it Lived on a Manor Serfs & Peasants worked the land for the lord Provided food, services, & soldiers for their

liege

Clergy Each manor had some sort of religious buildingEach manor had some sort of religious building Clergy lived in monasteries or churches on the Manor Served the lord & people on the manor for the

Church Received land & support from the lord’s Manor

Knights Knights Received land from lord

in exchange for fighting Starting training as a

Paige at age of 7-8 Became Squire at 13-14 Knighthood at 18 years

old Lived by code of Chivalry

– Bravery in battle– Fight fair– Keep promises– Defend the Church– Treat noble women with

courtesy

PeasantsPeasants Lived in villages on the

Manor Some were freemen & Some were freemen &

worked for wagesworked for wages Serfs were part of the Serfs were part of the

land granted in fiefsland granted in fiefs Remained in serfdom Remained in serfdom

for life, close to slavery for life, close to slavery Lord allowed peasants

to live on land in exchange for food & services

Manorialism Manorialism An economic system

supporting a lord & his vassals

The manor was an estate where the community worked in agriculture

Manors were self-sufficient, providing all of the necessary goods for its inhabitants

Barter was the usual form of exchange

Everyone had certain jobs to perform

Medieval Trade

Medieval GuildsCommercial Monopoly: Controlled membership & wagesapprentice journeyman

master craftsman Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece] Controlled prices & supplies of goods

A Silversmith’s Shop

Crest of a Cooper’s Guild

Late Medieval Towns