Transcript japanfeudal

FEUDALISM
• It was a simple, but effective system,
where all land was owned by the King. One
quarter was kept by the King as his
personal property, some was given to the
church and the rest was leased out under
strict controls.
• Feudalism in the Middle Ages resembles a
pyramid, with the lowest peasants at its
base and the lines of authority flowing up
to the peak of the structure, the king.
• Life lived under the Medieval Feudal
System, or Feudalism, demanded that
everyone owed allegiance to the King and
their immediate superior.
Feudalism Pyramid
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At the top of the Feudalism Pyramid was the
King
The King claimed ownership of the land
The King granted the land to important nobles these nobles then pledged their loyalty by
swearing to serve and protect the king
The king also granted land to the less powerful
military men (the knights) who were called
vassals
The vassals also agreed to fight for the king in
exchange for their land
The land was worked by the peasants or serfs.
They belonged to the land and could not leave
without permission - the bottom of the
Feudalism pyramid.
Feudalism Pyramid - Fealty and
Homage
• During the Middle Ages a portion of land
called a fief would be granted by the King.
This reward would be granted to him by
his lord in exchange for his services. The
recipient of the fief would be one of his
vassals. The fief, or land, was usually
granted following a Commendation
Ceremony. The commendation ceremony
was designed to create a lasting bond
between a vassal and his lord. Fealty and
homage were a key element of feudalism.
The King
• The King was in complete control under the
Feudal System. He owned all the land in the
country and decided who he would lease land
to. He therefore only allowed those men he
could trust to lease land from him. However,
before they were given any land they had to
swear an oath to remain faithful to the King at all
times. The men who leased land from the King
were known as Barons, they were wealthy,
powerful and had complete control of the land
they leased from the King.
The Barons/Lords
• Barons leased land from the King which was known
as a manor. They were known as the Lord of the
Manor and were in complete control of this land.
They established their own system of justice,
minted their own money and set their own taxes. In
return for the land they had been given by the King,
the Barons had to serve on the royal council, pay
rent and provide the King with Knights for military
service when he demanded it. They also had to
provide lodging and food for the King and his court
when they travelled around the country. The Barons
kept as much of their land as they wished for their
own use, then divided the rest among their Knights.
Barons were very rich.
Knights
• Knights were given land by a Baron in
return for military service when demanded
by the King. They also had to protect the
Baron and his family, as well as the Manor,
from attack. The Knights kept as much of
the land as they wished for their own
personal use and distributed the rest to
villeins (serfs). Although not as rich as the
Barons, Knights were quite wealthy.
Villeins
• Villeins, sometimes known as serfs, were
given land by Knights. They had to provide
the Knight with free labour, food and
service whenever it was demanded.
Villeins had no rights. They were not
allowed to leave the Manor and had to ask
their Lord's permission before they could
marry. Villeins were poor.
1. Feudalism was introduced to England by
William the Conqueror.
2. Knights leased land from the king.
3. A baron was known as 'Lord of the Manor'.
4. Barons had to provide food for villeins.
5. Knights had to fight for the king when
the barons told them to.
6. Knights were quite wealthy.
7. Villeins were also known as serfs.
8. The king gave food to everyone.
9. Villeins were rich.
10. Barons set their own taxes.
COMPARISON
Europe and Japan
AS regions develop, similar
systems may develop. Feudal
Japan and Europe in the dark
ages has similarities such as a
feudal system, codes of honor
and aspects of religion.
The similarities are
comparable but are not
completely the same.
Firstly, both regions used
feudalism.
• The purpose for Europe and Japan to use
the feudal system is to protect the land. The
king (Europe) or Shogun (Japan) were
leaders in the feudal system. These men
would appoint lords (Europe) or daimyos
(Japan) who pledge allegiance and watch
over and protect pieces of land given from
the king or Shogun.
• These appointed landowners would have
men work the land as farmers to pay taxes to
the king while receiving little in return to the
farmers.
Both regions had a certain code of
honor as well.
• In Europe, the code of honor is chivalry,
code of a medieval knight, and in Feudal
Japan is bushido code or “the warrior’s
way”.
• The bushido code stressed loyalty,
obedience, and honor to one’s country.
These bushido codes are used to show
respect as a fighter.
• As chivalry stressed the importance of
being a proper man, taking care of women
for they are fragile, inferior beings.
• In Europe, the classes who abided by
Chivalry or their code of honor are the
king, lords and knights.
• In Japan the Samurai class consists of the
Shogun, Daimyo, Bushi.
Religion played a role in the way
both the Europeans and Japanese
fought.
• For the Europeans, who are mostly
Christian, they believed in God and He
would help them win.
• The Japanese believed in Zen Buddhism
and if the men were to die they died with
honor.
As the codes of honor are similar,
there are differences in Japanese
and European life.
• The Seppuku, in feudal Japan, was a way for the
Samurai to resist capture by suicide. This slow
suicide was done by the samurai by stabbing
oneself with a shot sword cutting open the
abdomen then stabbing oneself again in the throat.
• This type of suicide made by the samurais
demonstrates courage, self-control, to prove their
loyalty to the purpose. The samurai understood and
accepted death
Although, the vassal system was
present in both regions, the code of
each system is different.
• In Europe, the system was based on a legal code,
creating laws.
• In Japan, the vassal system was based on a moral
code, this shows more self-control again by the
Japanese.
• Within the Dark Ages, specifically in England, a
movement to limit the aristocratic government was
made with the creation of the Magna Carta.
• In Japan the aristocratic government was trying the
improve rice-farming methods to increase
production.