The Feudal
System
What is
Feudalism?
Click the link for a quick clip to review the
Feudal System
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfH
o&list=PL949F2F18D3AB09C1
What are some important
terms?
Vassal- A vassal is anyone who
receives land in exchange for
loyalty and service.
Fief- A fief is land that was
given to a vassal in exchange
for their loyalty.
Manor- Many fiefs were
divided into these. It was a
small village, some
farmland, and a manor
house.
A Typical Medieval Manor Looked
Like This
Life at the Bottom- Peasants
Most of the village people were called
serfs or villiens. The lord of the manor
gave each serf space for a house and
small garden, strips in the farming
fields and a share in the hay meadow,
common land and woodland. Instead of
paying rent, the serfs would work on
certain days for the lord.In February or
March, they would do several days’
plowing on the lord’s land but they had
to provide their own food. Once in
summer and once in autumn, they
would be expected to do one day’s
plowing and one day’s harrowing
( flattening out the plowed soil), but on
these occasions the lord would give
them food twice a day.
There would also be other regular
work to be done on the lord’s strips,
like removing the weeds. Besides this
work, week by week, there were
special times when the serf’s whole
Life at the Bottom-Peasants
Although not technically a
slave, a serf was bound to a
lord for life. He could own no
property and needed the lord's
permission to marry. Under no
circumstance could a serf leave
the land without the lord's
permission unless he chose to
run away. If he ran to a town
and managed to stay there for
a year and a day, he was a free
man. However, the serf did
have rights. He could not be
displaced if the manor changed
hands. He could not be
required to fight, and he was
entitled to the protection of the
lord.
Armed Warriors- Knights
The word Knight‘ comes from an Anglo-Saxon word
"Cniht" meaning "boy" or "page boy.
Knights were first introduced to Europe by
Charlemagne.
Knights had to go through several steps before they
became a knight. As a boy between the age of 6-8
they would become a page. At the age of 14-16 they
would become a squire. At about the age of about 21
if he was worthy he would go through a dubbing
ceremony and would become a knight.
Once he became a knight he had to follow the
code of chivalry which dictated that a knight
should be brave and fearless in battle but would
also exhibit cultured Knightly qualities showing
themselves to be devout, loyal, courteous and
generous. Various ceremonies were attended and
oaths made before a man could become a knight.
The Code of Chivalry was a moral system which
went beyond rules of combat and introduced the
concept of Chivalrous conduct and courtly love.
Armed Warriors-Knights
Daily Life of a Knight in the Middle Ages
The daily life of a knight in the Middle ages
followed a similar schedule to that of his lord
or the noble he served. The daily life of a
Knight during the Middle ages centered
around castles or manors or fighting for his
lord and the King during times of war.
Typical Day
• The daily life of a Knight started at dawn
when Mass would be heard and prayers
would be made
• Knights would engage in weapons
• Mid morning prayers and a meal
• As the Medieval period progressed the
culture changed becoming more refined
and elegant. Knights were expected to
understand the rules of Chivalry and
courtly love. Time might be spent on dance
practice
• In the afternoon the Knights turned to
increasing their skills in horsemanship
and would accompany their lord in
hunting, hawking or inspecting the estate
• Evening prayer and then supper in the Hall
of the Castle or Manor House
A Knight’s
Armor
What do you think each of
the parts did?
What advantages did this
armor have? What about
disadvantages?
Of Noble Birth- Nobles
Baron, lord, duke, earl, count,
marquis, these are all titles of
nobility. They are all nobles.
You were born a noble in the
Middle Ages and your
children became nobles as
well.
Nobles oversaw their fiefdom
which may have included
several manors who they gave
to their vassals (lesser lords).
Its good to be the king(or queen)-
Monarchs
Monarchs were also of
noble birth but had
inherited their power from
their mother or father. You
could not marry into the
position of sole leader it
had to be inherited.
Monarchs ruled with
absolute power in the
Middle Ages and ruled by
Divine Right, the belief that
their power came directly
from God. When you died
your power passed to the
oldest born son or if there
was none the oldest
daughter.
Stone Sweet Home-Castles
Castles were the homes of
both nobles and kings.
Over time castle builders
made improvements to the
types of castles that were
made.
The first type were motte
and bailey, made of wood
and earth.
The second were stone
keeps, named for the
innermost part of the castle,
the keep.
Last to come along were
concentric castles, which
had two layers of walls.
Stone Sweet Home-Castles
Castle Clips
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/488/video
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/374/video
