1. Feudalism movie link

2. Feudalism- Political System
Lords (Duke/Count): Large landowners- private
individuals who assume public responsibilities
(defense, courts) Present vassal with a fief (land)
Vassal: gives military service and feudal dues to the lord in exchange for a fief. Collect taxes, entertain the lord when visiting

3. Knights: Specialists in war
trained from age 7-21
Code of chivalry (defend feudal lord, God, lady)
Agreed not to attack another knight without armor and prepared for battle; promise to release another knight if paid bail

4. Lady: Sent for training, learn to spin/weave, possibly read/write
Lady: Sent for training, learn to spin/weave, possibly read/write. Expected to bear many children, married at age 16 to someone 30-50, managed the household. Only held power in absence of her husband.
Troubadours- poets; sang praises of noble ladies/knights
Basic classes: Monks, nobles, peasants

5. Peasants: work the land, run the manor
Work in exchange for food and protection.
Pay fees to the lord- items like grain.
No schooling, few ever left the manor.
Serfs: Couldn’t leave the manor
Disease common: few lived longer than 35
Families all lived in one room huts (including
animals)

6. Questions to consider
Who received the greatest benefits by this system?
Who had the greatest responsibilities?
Why might peasants have felt the right to stay on the manor was more important than the freedom to leave?

7. Manorialism Economic System Agriculture dominant economic activity
Dependent on local community for everything
Subsistence economy, self-sufficient
Barter System

8. Questions to consider
How are basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter met under the manorial system?
How are these needs met in a modern industrial society?
What factors discouraged economic interdependence?
Poor roads, outlaws, frequent warfare

9. Rise of the power of the Papacy (Pope)
Church is Dominant
Rise of the power of the Papacy (Pope)
Controlled religious
AND secular world

10. Roman Catholic Church Laymen appointing clergy
Simony: purchasing a church office
Some ignored celibacy, not qualified or even literate, no knowledge of the sacraments

11. Monasteries and the Church
Church was the social center: kept legal documents, marriage. With no schools or hospitals, monasteries took on that role
Required to pay a tithe (10%)
Competition for relics (pilgrims=commerce)
Canon law- if disobeyed the church: excommunicated (damned to hell)
Heresy- belief different than church teaching

12. Took care of the sick/poor, set up schools, gave lodging to pilgrims
Monks had strict schedule
Prayer 8 times a day
7 hours of labor (could be farming or copying books)
2 hours of reading
Must give up all possessions
Vow of chastity

13. Monarchy
In the beginning of the Middle Ages, nobles and clergy had more power than the monarchs

14. England 1066 king Edward died without an heir
Nobles chose his brother-in-law Harold to rule
Duke William of Normandy claimed the throne as well
Sailed across English channel and at the Battle of Hastings, defeated Harold (Bayeux Tapestry)

15. William the Conqueror
King of England, yet controlled parts of France as well
Blending Anglo-Saxon and Norman French traditions
Creates Domesday book (census)
Listed every castle, field, pigpen for efficient tax collecting
Strengthen royal treasury= more royal authority

16. Henry II
1154 Henry II
Established common law system (same for everyone)
Sent traveling justices to enforce the law
Developed a jury system (grand jury) to determine which cases should be brought to trial

17. Power struggle with the Church
Henry II wanted to tax clergy, appoint bishops, increase power of royal courts
Four knights kill Thomas Becket (Archbishop of Canterbury & Henry’s best friend)
Becket made a saint, Henry II did penance

18. After Henry II died, son Richard took over
Richard left on Crusades
Henry’s son John next king (Robin Hood time period)

19. Magna Carta 1215
John tried to highly tax the nobles; they rebel and to keep his crown (and head) made him sign Magna Carta
Limits the power of the King
Provides for due process
No taxation without representation
Trial by jury

20. Legislature English: Parliament
Bicameral: House of Lords, House of Commons
France: Estates General (no real authority)
Three estates: clergy, nobles, everybody else
Each group got one vote