Transcript Feudalism in Europe

Feudalism in Europe
Charlemagne’s empire was split among his 3
grandsons
• Between 800-1000 Europe was besieged with
invasions – Muslims in the south in Italy, Magyars
from southern Russia in the east, and from the
north the Vikings
• The Vikings, a Germanic people, came roaring out
of Scandinavia raiding throughout Europe for
almost 300 years beginning in 790 CE.
• Vikings traveled by water – their largest ships could
hold 300 men and up to 72 oars
• Although the ships weighed about 20 tons when
loaded, they could travel in just 3 feet of water
They traveled through Europe and Russia.
• Vikings were also
traders, farmers, and
explorers.
• A Viking named Leif
Ericson probably
reached N. America
around 1000 ce
• As Vikings converted
to Christianity the
problem with their
boat terrorism
diminished and faded
away.
Magyars &
Muslims
• The Magyars were related to the Huns.
• Basically nomadic – lived on their horses,
they had a thriving business selling slaves.
• The Muslims attacked thru Spain into France
and as far inland as Switzerland
Social
Order
• The agreement
between Charles the
Bald & Rollo ushered in
the system called
Feudalism which was
based upon mutual
obligations
• Similar to the system
used in China almost
2,000 years before.
• Lord – the landowner
• Fief – the land that
is granted
• Vassal – The person
receiving the fief
• The hierarchy of the social classes began with
King/Queen, the church officials & nobility,
Knights, or mounted warriors and then peasants
• Most peasants were
serfs, peasants who
could not legally leave
the land where they
were born.
• They were not slaves
though. They could
not be sold – the only
wealth the lord could
get from them is the
work they provided on
the land.
• The lord’s estate
was called the
manor
• Serfs & peasants,
for protection,
were required to
work the land
(usually 4-5 days a
week).
• In return they
received a house
(or hut), and a
communal plot of
land the other
serfs would tend
to for their own
food.
• Manors came in many shapes & sizes. This is a simple one
in England (it was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton)
• The manor was self-sufficient. Besides the fields and
the village, there would be a mill, blacksmith, church
• Manor life did have drawbacks for the peasant. They had
to pay a tax to get their grain ground, to get married,
and the tithe, which is a church tax each person had to
pay (comes from the old English word for tenth)
The Age of
Chivalry
• Charles Martel had
observed that Muslim
horsemen often turned
the tide of battle so he
arranged his own cavalry
of armored horsemen
• Saddles and stirrups
which came from Asia
and India helped these
riders keep their place on
the horse.
• Defense of one’s land
would lead to the feudal
system
• Not only were knights
expected to show
courage on the
battlefield but loyalty
to the lord.
• By the 1100’s, a
complex set of ideals
called Chivalry was
designed.
• The knight had 3
masters: his feudal
lord, his Lord God, and
his chosen lady
• The best place to train as a knight was at a
tournament where knights took part in mock
battles.
• By the 1100’s, stone castles dominated much of the
countryside throughout western Europe. Trying to
capture one was a deadly affair
• Siege weapons, like the Trebuchet were developed to
collapse the walls of the castle
Literature
• Epic stories were
told of legendary
figures.
• The song of
Roland was a
famous poem
about French
soldiers who die
in battle during
the reign of
Charlemagne
• Conflict was
created by a
knight’s duty to
his lord and to his
• Poet musicians were
called Troubadours
who lived at court.
• They would send
roving minstrels to
carry their songs to
other courts.
• Their songs would
tell of love, or even
about news of a
battle
• The mother of
Richard the
Lionhearted and King
John, Eleanor of
Aquitaine, was
popular and many
troubadours would
come to her court to
sing.
The role of
Women
• The church viewed
women as inferior to
men.
• But the romantic
ideals put her on a
pedestal
• During the Middle
Ages the role of
women decreased
and was limited to
the home and
convent.
• A notable exception
was Eleanor, seen
here with Henry II