Medieval Feudal System By: Cole Monroe Luke Derbawka Aaron Cochrane

Introduction to Feudalism Feudal System: The political, military, and social system in the middle ages based on kings who grant land to their vassals who control the land and the peasants who work it. Kingdoms were divided into areas of land called Fiefs. The essence of feudalism is that whoever owns the land rules it.

Kings King Clovis was the first king and helped the Christian Church become a rising force in a changing time. King Clovis led the Germanic people to defeat the Romans to take their land. King Clovis was the first King in a Feudalist society King Charlemagne’s kingdom established a much more exact version of feudalism.

Kings Cont. 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.

Knights In Feudalism Knights were given land by the Baron in return for military service when the King demanded it. The Knights kept as much of the land as they wished for their own personal use and distributed the rest to villeins (serfs). Overall the Knights controlled the peasants land as well as their own.

Workers in Feudalism 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.)

Fun Facts About Feudalism 90% of people in this style of society were peasants working the land. A peasant’s work day was normally very long and consisted of obeying the vassal that controlled them. Kings held their power through divine right, they had the authority of god. There was no formal justice system; nobles decided there own punishments from crime to crime.

The Decline of Feudal Power Edward the First restored most of the royal authority his father had forfeited Overall Edward the First destroyed Feudalism and formed it into a monarchy Put power into Barons and the Royal Government

Bibliography Works Cited "Feudal Justice." Feudal Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct "Feudalism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Oct Web. 18 Oct "Medieval Life - Feudalism." Medieval Life - Feudalism. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct