The Middle Ages

Feudalism and the Manor System: Chapter 14 Section 1 The Middle Ages are the years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance The Middle Ages are the years between ancient and modern times The Middle Ages are the years between about AD The term medieval refers to the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages

After the Roman Empire, Europe was ruled by many small kingdoms The Franks controlled a large area of what is France today The Frank king Charlemagne united much of western Europe The pope declared Charlemagne king of the Holy Roman Empire

The Middle Ages

Feudalism was the system of rule in the Middle Ages Under feudalism, land was owned by kings and lords, and it was given to vassals in return for loyalty and service. Vassals served the lord by paying taxes, fighting, managing the manor, farming land, and trading goods. A knight was a vassal who received land and honor for serving a lord as a soldier The manor was a large estate that included farms, a village, a church and the lord’s house Vassals often gave away parts of their land and had vassals of their own.

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages: Social Classes 1.Lords- Wealthy landowners 2.Vassals- Served lords could also be lords 3.Serfs- Poor, working class farmers who were considered part of the manor they lived on 4.Women- wealthy women ran the manor estate in the lord’s absence; peasant women worked in the fields; while female serfs worked in the fields, or in the kitchens and other parts of the manor.