Transcript File - Wells of Knowledge

CH. 1 FEUDALISM AND
TIMES OF CHANGE
The Origins of the
Western Worldview
Western Worldview?
NOT this….
Western Worldview?
We are talking broad ideas and the perspectives brought
from West Europe:
•France, Italy, England, Spain, Germany, Nordic
countries, etc
These ideas spread to North America
with Explorers and Immigration
When we talk about the West vs. the East,
we are talking
West: Western Europe and North America
East: Middle East and Asia
Christianity, liberalism (freedom),
democracy, etc are all considered to be
Western ways of thinking – (not exclusive).
So let’s go back to how it
started….
Renaissance = Change or Rebirth
•So.. Something had to
change.
•So.. Let’s look at how things
WERE, and how they
changed
The Medieval Era (Middle
Ages) & Feudalism
What is Feudalism?
Feudalism was based on land, loyalty, and duty.
It was a simple, but effective system, where all
land was owned by the King.
1/4 was kept by the King as his personal property,
some was given to the church and the rest was
leased out under strict controls.
What is Feudalism?
In order to receive land, nobility or knights
swore allegiance (loyalty) to the King who
in turn would give him a piece of his land
called a manor or fief.
Why would the king lease
out his land?
1. Too much for one person to control.
i.
In order to help maintain the land the king
leases, or lends, out sections of land called
fiefs to local lords.
2. The lords in turn lend out sections of their
land to lesser lords, nobles or knights, who
in turn lend sections of their land out to
peasants or serfs.
Feudalism: A Hierarchy
Feudalism: A Hierarchy
People in society were organized into levels of importance
and power – a hierarchy
Popes and bishops
Barons
Priests,
knights, etc
The function of the peasants
was to work to produce the
necessities of life, that of the
nobles to fight for the
protection of all, and that of
the clergy to pray and to care
for the salvation of men.
Your position on this
hierarchy was believed to be
chosen by God.
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.
Only men the King trusted were
able to lease land from him.
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 and 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.
The Barons and Lords
In return for the land they received from the King, the
Barons had to many duties:
Serving on the Royal Council
Paying rent
Provide the King with Knights for military service
when he demanded it.
Provide lodging and food for the King and his court
when they traveled 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/Serfs/Peasants
Villeins, better known as serfs or
peasants, were given land by Knights.
They had to provide the Knight with free
labour, food and service whenever it was
demanded.
Serfs had no rights.
They were not allowed to leave the Manor
Had to ask their Lord's permission before
they could marry.
Serfs were poor. Serfs made up the
majority of the population.
KING: owns all land, governs the people
Higher Noblemen and barons
Job: swear allegiance to King and
offer protection to all (Build armies)
In return: Given large pieces of
land
Lower nobility (knights):
Job: swear allegiance and protect all (fight)
In return: Given small pieces of land
CHURCH: (clergy, popes, bishops,
priests)
Job: Provide salvation for all
In return: Given land
PEASANTS/SERFS:
Job: Work on land and provide for all (pay rent to Church and nobles
In return: get to live on land, receive protection
Feudalism
https://youtu.be/HCPp7XWZfHo
Check Your Understanding
Freeman Commoners/Peasants
Freeman vs. Serf
Freeman is just as it sounds, a peasant who was
free, who worked for money as opposed to being
tied to the land.
A serf was tied to the land and therefore tied to the
lord who owned the land.
Those serfs who did not work on the land but who
lived in towns had few choices as to their profession.
Unskilled workers generally acted as labour or servants,
while
Skilled workers were usually involved in the trades.
Work in feudal times: GUILDS
Trades (carpenters, framers, shoemakers etc.) were
controlled by Guilds. They organized the trade, set the
prices, set the standards and decided who would be
admitted into the craft.
TIMES OF CHANGE
REVOLTS
FEUDALISM
Fair/Unfair…who cares?
The feudal system was unfair
for the peasants.
Rich stayed rich, peasants
could not move up the
social/economic ladder.
The taxes and goods they had to pay the lords prevented
them from stock piling wealth and therefore prevented
them from ever owning their land.
Peasants’ Revolt
Unhappy with the feudal situation the peasants rose up against
their oppressor in what was known as the peasants’ revolt.
The peasants burned houses and killed nobles, but with little
success. The revolts were suppressed and peasant unrest
continued.