1 The High Middle Ages The Introduction of Feudalism Social Studies 8

2 OBJECTIVES Our lesson today is designed to look at the social structure of the High Middle Ages and determine what impact the feudal system had on the people of different social classes.

3 Topics of Discussion  What was life like in the HMA?  How was society structured?  The Feudal Contract  Building social contracts  Constructing the Feudal Pyramid of Power  Relationship Between the Social Classes  Why was it necessary?

4 Contracts What are contracts and why do we have them? What are some examples of contracts? What types of contracts might people use back in the HMA?  What purpose would they serve?

5 Feudalism is… Fealty  Must be loyal (follow rules and pay taxes/tithes) Fief  Own or work on a piece of land Faith  Must go to church

6 SO WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY?

7 Because… Feudalism originated partly as result of Viking and Muslim invasions Kings unable to defend their lands, lands of their nobles Nobles had to find a way to defend own lands Built castles, often on hills Not elaborate structures; built of wood, used as place of shelter in case of attack Nobles would be in charge of a specific area of land that and had to answer to the lord

8 And also because… Back then, people were divided into a variety of social classes/groups How might they have been grouped?  What did they base these groupings on?

9 CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER SERFS AND FREEMEN

10 CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABORPROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

11 CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABORPROTECTION POWERFUL NOBLES SERFS AND FREEMEN LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE

12 CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABORPROTECTION POWERFUL NOBLES KING SERFS AND FREEMEN LAND AND PROTECTION LAND LOYALTY AND SERVICE LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE

13 Relationship Between Lords and Vassals  The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system  Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord  All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

14 Workers on the Manor There were two groups of peasant workers on the manor Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.) Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they where the noble’s property.)

15 Feudal Contract LORDS VASSALS GIVE PROTECTION TO GIVE SERVICE TO

Oath of Allegiance: The Canadian Oath of Allegiance: “I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.” 16 Now: Create your own Oath of Allegiance -You are a High Middle Ages Lord, and this will the Oath that your vassal will read to you. -It should be a paragraph long and contain what you feel would be important parts of a feudal contract (duties, penalties, rights)

Oath of Allegiance Now you will partner up  Have your partner read the Oath you have created, they will be your Vassal  Then you will read your partners 17 Now read the Actual Vassal’s Oath of Allegiance on Page 45 of your textbook - Once you have finished reading the Oath of Allegiance, write two short paragraphs comparing your oath to the one in the textbook: One paragraph will be comparing the similarities to the oath in the textbook, and the other paragraph will be comparing differences

Lastly… In your textbook, read pages 44 to 46 Once you are done reading answer question #3a and b in the same paper that you wrote your Oath of Allegiance on These will collected at the end of class 18