Feudalism and the Manor Economy

Mutual Obligation Failures of the Empire Weak central government Need for protection Unable to maintain law and order Led To: Emergence of Feudalism -political system of the middle ages -based on mutual obligations (I do something for you, you do something for me) -based on loyalty, service and feudal contracts

Feudalism Political and social system based on loyalty, military service and birth. Rigid with little to now social mobility, your birth determined your social status.

Structured Society - Nobles Men Knights Training Warfare Tournaments Chivalry Code of loyalty, duty and service Women “Lady of the Manor” Training Politics Eleanor of Aquitaine

Structured Society – Serfs/Peasants Bound to the land Farmers Maintenance Permission to marry; leave the estate Payments to lord Majority of the population Protection Land to farm

Peasant’s Life Unable to attend school Limited or no travel Could not read or write Limited or no travel Long work hours Hunger Disease Few opportunities to celebrate Christmas, Easter

Self-Sufficiency Manorialism- economic system of the early middle ages. Due to a lack of trade the manor was self-sufficient Produced on the manor Food, clothing, furniture, tools Buildings Manor House Church Mill Cottages/Huts Fields/Pastures

The Manor Economy

The Medieval Church

The Church and Medieval Life The church was a social center as well as a place of worship. Christian rituals and faith were part of the fabric of everyday life (sacraments). Priests guided people on issues of values and morality.

The Church and Medieval Life Church required people to pay a tithe (10% of their income). Monks and nuns cared for the poor and sick, set up schools for children, and gave food and lodging to travelers. Friars were monks who did not live in a monastery, but traveled and preached to the poor.

A Medieval Monk’s Day

The Power of the Church Grows In the centuries after the fall of Rome, the Church became the most powerful secular, or worldly, force in medieval Europe Medieval popes began to claim papal supremacy, or authority over all secular rulers.

The Power of the Church Grows The medieval Church developed its own body of laws, known as canon law, as well as its own courts. Anyone who disobeyed canon law faced a range of penalties. The Church also had absolute power in religious matters.

Religious Authority Excommunication: Pope forbade people to receive sacraments or a Christian burial Interdict: an order excluding an entire town, region, or kingdom from receiving some sacraments or a Christian burial

Reform Movements The success of the Church brought problems: As Church wealth and power grew, discipline weakened. Some clergy ignored their vows and lived in luxury. Some priests focused more on family than on Church duties.

Reform Movements A number of reform movements spread across Europe: (1) Benedictine Rule, monks and nuns took vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. (2) Pope Gregory VII outlawed marriage for priests and prohibited simony, the selling of Church offices.

Jews in Europe In hard times, Christians persecuted the Jews, blaming them for economic problems, illness, and disasters. Prejudice against Jews is called antisemitism. Migration from Western to Eastern Europe.

Economic Expansion and Change

Agricultural Revolution New farming technologies iron plow harness windmill three-field system Increase in food production Population explosion Between 1000 and 1300, the population of Europe doubled.

Trade in Europe Europe’s growing population needed goods that were not available to them. As foreign invasions and feudal warfare declined, trade increased

Commercial Revolution The revival of trade led to a revolution in commerce. New business practices emerged, such as: setting up banks joining together to set up partnerships developing insurance adopting the bill of exchange

Social Changes The use of money undermined serfdom. Most peasants became tenant farmers or hired farm laborers. In towns, a new middle class of merchants, traders, and artisans emerged. The Church forbade Christians from becoming moneylenders. Since Jews were barred from other professions, many took on this role.

Guilds In medieval towns, merchants and artisans formed associations called guilds. Merchant guilds appeared first. They dominated town life, passing laws, levying taxes, and making other important decisions.

Guilds A craft guild was made up of workers in a particular occupation. To prevent competition, only a certain number of people could work in any trade. Becoming a guild member involved many years of hard work.

Guilds What are the two types of medieval guilds? What modern organization do medieval guilds remind you of?

Medieval Guilds: A Goldsmith’s Shop

Crest of a Cooper’s Guild