1. Feudalism and the Manor Economy
EQ: What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of Medieval Europe?

2. The Emergence of Feudalism
In the early Middle Ages, Europe was facing invasions from Viking and Muslims
As a response to a need for protection a new system developed:
Feudalism: A loosely organized system of rule in which powerful local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords.

3. The Feudal Contract
Vassal: a lesser lord who pledged military service in exchange for land.
Fief – estate granted to a vassal

4. The Feudal Contract A Vassal owes a lord: A lord owes a vassal
Military aid
Council
Economic Aid
A lord owes a vassal
Military protection
Legal defense
Food (provided by the fief)

5. The World of Nobles To feudal nobles warfare was a way of life.
trained from boyhood to become knights, or mounted warriors.
As feudal warfare decreased in the 12th century knights began to compete in tournaments.

6. The World of Nobles
Chivalry - Code of conduct, required knights to be brave, loyal, and true to their word.
called for women to be cherished and protected.

7. Peasant and Manor Life
The heart of the medieval economy was the manor, or lord’s estate.

8. Peasant and Manor Life
Most peasants on a manor were serfs, they were bound to the land.
Not slaves but not free
Could not be bought or sold
Could not leave the manor without the lord’s permission
If the land happened to be granted to a new lord the serf went along with it.

9. Peasant and Manor life
Peasants and lords (had) were tied together by mutual rights and obligations.
Peasants provided labor
work the fields, farming the lord’s lands.
Repair roads, bridges, and fences
Paid the lord fees/taxes
(marriage, inheritance, etc.)
Normally paid with grain, chickens, or eggs.

10. Peasant and Manor life Nobles had to:
Provide protection from Viking raids and feudal warfare.
Guarantee food, housing, and land.

11. Essential Question
What were the social, political, and economic characteristics of Medieval Europe?

12. Assessment
What was an estate granted to a lesser lord called?

13. Assessment
Medieval knights lived by a code of conduct that dictated they be brave, loyal, and true to their word. What was this code called?

14. Assessment
Medieval peasants who were not slaves but were bound to the land are called…

15. Assessment
The lord’s estate, the heart of the medieval economy.

16. Assessment
The political / social structure that was based on lords, vassals, and serfs was called…