Transcript Feudalism in Europe

Feudalism in Europe
Feudalism, a political and economic system
based on land-holding and protective
alliances, emerges in Europe.
Invaders Attack Western Europe
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The Vikings Invade from the North
Warlike Vikings raid Europe from
Scandinavia—Denmark, Norway,
Sweden
 Viking long ships sail in shallow
water, allowing raids inland
 Eventually, many Vikings adopt
Christianity and become farmers
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Invaders Attack Western Europe
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Magyars and Muslims Attack from the
East and South
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Magyars (Hungarian nomads) invade
western Europe in late 800s
Muslims strike north from Africa, attacking
through Italy and Spain
Viking, Magyar, Muslim invasions cause
widespread disorder, suffering
A New Social Order: Feudalism
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Feudalism Structures Society
850 to 950, feudalism emerges—
political system based on land control
 A lord (landowner) gives fiefs (land
grants) in exchange for services
 Vassals—people who receive fiefs—
become powerful landholders
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A New Social Order: Feudalism
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The Feudal Pyramid
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Power in feudal system much like a
pyramid, with king at the top
Kings served by nobles who are served by
knights; peasants at bottom
Knights—horsemen—defend their lord’s
land in exchange for fiefs
Relationship Between Lords
and Vassals
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The relationship between lords and
vassals made up a big part of the
political and social structure of the
feudal system
Vassals had certain duties to perform
for the lord
All nobles were ultimately vassals of the
king.
What is a Knight?
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Almost all nobles were knights
Training began at age 7, as a page,
under the guidance of the lady of the
manor
Became squires at age 15 and were
trained by other knights
Those deemed worthy were “dubbed”
knights
Workers on the Manor
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There were two groups of peasant workers
on the manor
Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and
could leave the manor whenever they wished.
(They usually had a skill needed by others on
the manor.)
Serfs – workers bound to the land by
contract with the nobles. (They had no
freedom - they where the noble’s property.)
Feudal Contract
LORDS
GIVE
SERVICE
TO
GIVE
PROTECTION
TO
VASSALS
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Constructing the Pyramid of
Power
SERFS AND FREEMEN
10
Constructing the Pyramid
of Power
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
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Constructing the Pyramid
of Power
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
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Constructing the Pyramid of
Power
KING
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
13
A New Social Order: Feudalism
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Social Classes Are Well Defined
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Medieval feudal system classifies people into three social
groups
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those who fight: nobles and knights
those who pray: monks, nuns, leaders of the Church
those who work: peasants
Social class is usually inherited; majority of people are
peasants
Most peasants are serfs—people lawfully bound to place of
birth
Serfs aren’t slaves, but what they produce belongs to their
lord
Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism
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A Self-Contained World
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Medieval manors include lord’s house,
church, workshops, village
Manors cover a few square miles of land,
are largely self-sufficient
Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism
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The Harshness of Manor Life
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Peasants pay taxes to use mill and bakery; pay a tithe to
priest
Tithe—a church tax—is equal to one-tenth of a peasant’s
income
Serfs live in crowded cottages with dirt floors, straw for beds
Daily grind of raising crops, livestock; feeding and clothing
family
Poor diet, illness, malnutrition make life expectancy 35 years
Serfs generally accept their lives as part of God’s plan
Bibliography
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www.rcs.k12.va.us
www.owasso.k12.ok.us