1. World History Chapter 8 Section 2
Feudalism and the Manor Economy

2. A New System of Rule
With attacks by Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars, kings could not always maintain law and order
People had to defend their homes and lands
Feudalism
Powerful lords gave fiefs to vassals
estate
Lord granted land in exchange for service and loyalty to a greater lord

3. Estates Vassals A few acres Hundreds of square miles
Included peasants, towns, buildings
Vassals
Provide 40 days of military service/year
Certain money payments
Advice

5. Lords, Vassals, and Knights
Monarch
Dukes
Vassal
Counts
How many of you have a friend who may not like another friend of yours?
Problems arose if a vassal pledged his loyalty to more than one lord

6. The World of Warriors War was a way of life How to become a knight
Many men wanted to be knights
Mounted warriors
How to become a knight
Age 7: go to castle of father’s lord
Learn to fight, ride, care for equipment
Difficult and strict
Beatings
Age 21: ready to be a knight
Kneel before older knight
Dubbing

8. Battles subsided in the 1100’s
Tournaments and mock battles
Began dangerously
Captured knights held for ransom
Eventually became more ceremonious

9. Independent Practice:
Write and explain: How is the game of capture the flag like a medieval war?
Write (1 min.)
Explain (1 min.)

11. Castles
Early Middle Ages lords would leave their homes during an attack
Wooden tower surrounded by a fence with a moat
1100’s
Stone castles with a moat and a drawbridge
Point of war would be to seize a castle
Food and water were stored up in the castle
If someone could not be starved into surrender, they could try to tunnel their way under

12. Role of noblewomen “lord of the manor” when man was away at war
Supervise vassals, manage house, farm, and medical duties
Maybe even fight for estate on her own
Some got involved in politics
Eleanor of Aquitaine became queen of France and England
Had a hand in European affairs for 70 years

13. Sons usually got the family land
Women did get some as part of dowry
If husband died, woman regained land rights
Girls were often sent to friends or relatives for training
Had to know how to spin, weave, supervise servants
Some learned reading and writing
Bear many children and be a good wife

14. Chivalry Code of conduct for knights during the middle ages
Brave, loyal, and true to their word
Fight fairly and be generous to enemies
*Only applied to nobles, not commoners
Women were to be protected and cherished
Troubadours
Wandering poets
Chivalry became modern idea of romantic love

15. The Manor Lord’s estate Lord’s provided protection and land to live on
One or more villages and surrounding lands
Peasants worked on the manor
Serfs- peasants bound to the land
Couldn’t leave without lords permission
Work several days a week farming
Repair roads, bridges, fences
Paid fees for marriage, getting land, grinding grain
Holiday fees
Money wasn’t used as much as grains or goods
Lord’s provided protection and land to live on

16. A narrow world Peasants produced all they needed Manor included
Didn’t go far from city
Little education of larger world
Manor included
Many one room huts
Water mill
Church
Land was evenly divided

17. Daily Life Peasants worked sunup to sundown Diet Sleeping conditions
Black bread, peas, cabbage, turnips, onions
Fish if near a river
No meat unless they killed wild game
Sleeping conditions
One room hut held the family and any farm animals

18. Seasons Spring Summer Fall Other times
Plow
Summer
Hay
Fall
Harvest
Other times
Weeded, fix fence, chores
Disease and starvation were hard to overcome
Life expectancy was around 35

19. Celebrations Marriages and Births Christmas and Easter
Week off from work
Other Christian Holidays
Celebrate by:
Killing an animal and eating meat
Dancing
Sports

20. Beliefs Attend chapel on the Sabbath Medieval Europe believed in:
Gossip and dance after
Medieval Europe believed in:
Elves, fairies, and other nature spirits
Love potions and magic charms
Witches
Priests did their best to “Christianize” old beliefs

21. Word
Definition
Vassal
A. Noble who served as a mounted warrior
2. Fief
B. Wandering poet
3. Knight
C. Cod of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages
4. Chivalry
D. Peasant bound to the Lord’s land
5. Troubadour
E. An estate granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service and loyalty
6. Manor
F. lord’s estate. One or more villages and surrounding land
7. Serf
G. Lord who was granted land in exchange for service and loyalty to a greater lord
Independent Practice
Match the vocabulary word with the proper definition.
Answers: G E A C B F D

22. Before and After Journal
Pretend you are a peasant living in the middle ages
Write a journal what life would be like, not only for you, but for Monarchs, Lords, and Knights as well