Feudalism and the Feudalism and the Manor SystemManor System

Coach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 14, Section 1Chapter 14, Section 1

KnightsKnights

KnightKnight – soldier who received honor and – soldier who received honor and land in exchange for serving his lord.land in exchange for serving his lord.

SquireSquire – knight – in – training. A squire – knight – in – training. A squire becomes a knight when he completes his becomes a knight when he completes his training and is presented his sword and training and is presented his sword and shield. shield.

The squire would kneel as a sword tapped The squire would kneel as a sword tapped him on each shoulder. This process was him on each shoulder. This process was called knighting. called knighting.

Middle AgesMiddle Ages

Middle AgesMiddle Ages – years between ancient and – years between ancient and modern times. Occurred about 1000 modern times. Occurred about 1000 years ago in Western Europe.years ago in Western Europe.

The middle ages are often called the The middle ages are often called the medieval period. medieval period.

Collapse of the Roman EmpireCollapse of the Roman Empire

The middle ages began with the collapse The middle ages began with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire had provided order to the region for about had provided order to the region for about 500 years.500 years.

The collapse of the Roman Empire caused The collapse of the Roman Empire caused Europe to divide into several small Europe to divide into several small kingdoms.kingdoms.

Charlemagne Reunites Western EuropeCharlemagne Reunites Western Europe

One of the invading groups of the old One of the invading groups of the old Roman Empire were the Franks. They Roman Empire were the Franks. They came from Gaul. In AD 768, Charlemagne came from Gaul. In AD 768, Charlemagne became king of the Franks.became king of the Franks.

He took over many small and weak He took over many small and weak kingdoms and eventually his kingdom kingdoms and eventually his kingdom stretched across all of Western Europe.stretched across all of Western Europe.

Charlemagne:Charlemagne:Royal Church of St. Mary at AachenRoyal Church of St. Mary at Aachen

Charlemagne Reunites Western Charlemagne Reunites Western Europe, cont.Europe, cont.

Charlemagne ruled his kingdom for 50 Charlemagne ruled his kingdom for 50 years, expanding education and the years, expanding education and the Christian religion. He built schools and Christian religion. He built schools and improved the economy.improved the economy.

After his death (814 AD), the empire was After his death (814 AD), the empire was divided among his 3 sons. They fought divided among his 3 sons. They fought each other for control of the region.each other for control of the region.

Feudal SystemFeudal System

Because of Viking invasions, the people of Because of Viking invasions, the people of Europe needed a way to defend Europe needed a way to defend themselves. They came up with themselves. They came up with feudalismfeudalism – land was owned by kings or lords but – land was owned by kings or lords but controlled by vassals in return for their controlled by vassals in return for their loyalty.loyalty.

In medieval Europe, the landowners held In medieval Europe, the landowners held power. They were called nobles or power. They were called nobles or princes. princes.

Feudal DutiesFeudal Duties

The main duty of a lord was to protect his The main duty of a lord was to protect his land and the vassals that controlled it. If a land and the vassals that controlled it. If a vassal died, his children were cared for by vassal died, his children were cared for by the lord.the lord.

Vassals were expected in return to fight Vassals were expected in return to fight and help protect the lord. Some vassals and help protect the lord. Some vassals were knights who led men into battle.were knights who led men into battle.

Pledging fealty to CharlemagnePledging fealty to Charlemagne

Knights of ChristKnights of Christ by Jan van Eyck by Jan van Eyck

Manor SystemManor System

Manorialism was the way medieval Manorialism was the way medieval Europeans organized their economy. Europeans organized their economy. System was based on the System was based on the manormanor – large – large estate that included farm fields, pastures, estate that included farm fields, pastures, and the manor house.and the manor house.

Lords and ManorsLords and Manors

The lord of the manor was typically a vassal The lord of the manor was typically a vassal of a king. The manor was part of his fief of a king. The manor was part of his fief (plot of land). Most goods such as food and (plot of land). Most goods such as food and clothing were made on the manor.clothing were made on the manor.

The lord depended on the manor for wealth. The lord depended on the manor for wealth. The lord ruled over the poor people who The lord ruled over the poor people who worked the land and also made and worked the land and also made and enforced laws. He also levied taxes against enforced laws. He also levied taxes against the peasants.the peasants.

Role of NoblewomenRole of Noblewomen

Women of feudal society also had their Women of feudal society also had their role. They would visit other noble families role. They would visit other noble families for training. After training, she became for training. After training, she became lady of the household. lady of the household.

A woman’s duties include supervising A woman’s duties include supervising servants, performing medical tasks, and servants, performing medical tasks, and managing the house.managing the house.

NoblewomenNoblewomen

Peasants and SerfsPeasants and Serfs

The majority of the people of medieval The majority of the people of medieval Europe were peasants. They were poor Europe were peasants. They were poor people who made their living as farmers people who made their living as farmers and laborers.and laborers.

They worked the manors’ fields and were They worked the manors’ fields and were allowed to farm a little strip of land for allowed to farm a little strip of land for themselves to feed their families.themselves to feed their families.

PeasantsPeasants

Tied to the ManorTied to the Manor

Most peasants were also serfs. Most peasants were also serfs. SerfsSerfs – – peasants who were considered to be part of peasants who were considered to be part of the manor. When a noble was given a fief, the the manor. When a noble was given a fief, the serfs on the manor became his. The serfs serfs on the manor became his. The serfs could do could do nothingnothing without the lord’s permission. without the lord’s permission.

Serfs became free if…Serfs became free if…

1.1. they saved enough money to buy a plot of land they saved enough money to buy a plot of land

2.2. they escaped for a year and a day without they escaped for a year and a day without being caughtbeing caught

A Hard LifeA Hard Life

Medieval peasants worked very hard. Medieval peasants worked very hard. Men, women, and children were all Men, women, and children were all required to work. Peasants lived in one required to work. Peasants lived in one room huts. For cooking, they built a fire on room huts. For cooking, they built a fire on the dirt floor. They slept on straw mats on the dirt floor. They slept on straw mats on the floor.the floor.