Transcript What is Feudalism?

Early Medieval
Europe
FEUDALISM
Following the death of Charlemagne,
central government again weakened
and disappeared in Europe. His
successors were unable to provide protection for the
people against outside invasion. Trade and
communication declined once again. Local
communities were forced to become self-sufficient
and sought ways to protect themselves. The result
was a new political, social, and economic system
which provided for the needs of local people. This
system became known as Feudalism. By the mid
1000’s feudalism had become a way of life
throughout Western Europe.
What is Feudalism?
 A political system of local government and
military defense
 A social system of distinct class based on land
holding
 An economic system of self-sufficient manors
Origins of Feudalism
Feudalism began in France in the late 800’s
following the death of Charlemagne
Feudalism arose primarily as a means of
protection against invaders, especially the
Vikings
Feudalism spread throughout Europe over
the next two centuries
Feudalism as a Political System
Fiefs - Large tracts of
land granted to
someone in return
for service and
loyalty
Vassals - People who
were granted land in
return for service
and loyalty
Lords - Nobles who
granted fiefs to
vassals in return for
service and loyalty
King
Protection
King
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Powerful Lord
Powerful Lord
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Lord
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Protection
King
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Powerful Lord
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King
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Peasants
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Powerful Lords
Lesser Lords
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Clergy
Serfs
Feudal Society
Upper Class
King - Owned all land
Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King
Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords
Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of
nobles
Feudal Society
Upper Class
King - Owned all land
Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King
Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords
Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of
nobles
Middle Class
Clergy - Priests, monks, nuns, bishops
Feudal Society
Upper Class
King - Owned all land
Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King
Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords
Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of
nobles
Middle Class
Clergy - Priests, monks, nuns, bishops
Lower Class
Serfs - Bound to land through oath of loyalty to a
lord. Usually uneducated. Served on lords manor
and in the military
Feudalism as an Economic System
The most important aspect of the
feudal system was the large estate
called a manor. The manor acted as a
self-sufficient economic unit and
generally ranged from 900 to 3000
acres. The economic system of
feudalism is therefore known as
Manoralism
Feudalism as an Economic System
A typical manor consisted of the following:
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Farm and Pasture Land
The Lord’s land - best of the land. Usually 1/3 of the
manor
Serf’s land - Spread throughout the manor. Usually
poor in fertility
The Lord’s Castle
Center of political and military activity.
Provided protection during attack
The Village
Contained serf’s huts, artisan’s shops, and the lord
wine press, flour mill, and baking ovens.
Medieval Manor
• Self-contained
• Manor House – Dwelling place of the lord, his family,
and their servants
• Village Church – site of both religious services and
public meetings
• Peasant Cottages – where the peasants lived
• Lord’s Demesne – Fields owned by the lord and
worked by the peasants
• Peasant Crofts – gardens that belonged to the peasants
• Mill – water-powered mill for grinding grain
• Common Pasture – common area for grazing animals
• Woodland – forests provided wood for fuel
Harshness of Manor Life
• Peasants paid taxes on all grain
• Peasants paid a tax on marriage (weddings could take place only with
the lord’s consent
• Serfs lived in crowded cottages (one to two rooms)
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One room was used for cooking, second was family bedroom
Family huddled on a pile of straw that often crawled with insects
Diet included vegetables, coarse brown bread, grain, cheese and soup
Life revolved around work and more work
Children worked as soon as they were old enough
Illness and malnutrition were constant
Knighthood
The lowest level of nobility was the
knight. Generally, the sons of nobles
would be trained as knights beginning
at an early age. Eventually, the knight
might become a lord after inheriting
the wealth and land of his father.
Others could become knights too.
There were two types of knights:
Knighthood
Knights of the Bath
Knights of the bath were sons of nobles
trained to become knights. They were
trained in three stages:
Page
At age 7, the young boy was sent to the
castle of a lord where he waited on his host
and learned manners. He spent leisure time
hunting and playing war games with other
pages
Knighthood
Squire
Around age 14, the page would be
promoted to a squire. He was assigned
to a knight and would help him with
weapons and armor. He traveled with
the knight into battle and practiced his
skills.
Knighthood
Knight
Around age 21, the squire became a full
fledged knight. He first had to take an
elaborate bath to wash away the
impurities of body and soul. He then
spent a day fasting and a night praying.
He then knelt before the lord who
dubbed him a knight by tapping him
on the shoulder with a sword.
Knighthood
Knights of the Field
A young man could occasionally become
a knight by showing valor on the
battlefield. He could be knighted by a
lord without going through formal
training
The Code of Chivalry
Late in the period of feudalism, a code
of conduct developed that would
change feudal life. This code, called
the Code of Chivalry stressed:
1. Loyalty to God and the knights lord
2. Protection of the oppressed and poor
3. Courage, courtesy, and generosity
4. Support of justice
5. Defense of Christianity
Decline of Feudalism
Feudalism began to gradually disappear in the late 1100’s.
Disease, ignorance, poverty, and superstition dominated
the feudal era and contributed to its demise. However, the
two main reasons for the decline were The Crusades and
The Rise of Nation States.
The Crusades (1095-1291)
Four major religious wars in which Europeans attempted to
reclaim the Holy Land from the Moslems. Europeans were
introduced to eastern ideas and goods. As the demand for
eastern goods increased, feudal economies began to weaken.
The Rise of Nation States
Between the 14th and 17th centuries, nation states developed
powerful governments headed by absolute monarchs. Feudal
governments weakened as a result.