1. Middle Ages: Feudalism

2. The Middle Ages or Medieval Era
( 500 CE CE.)
Rise of
New
Kingdoms/States that are not united
New Kingdoms are unable to protect themselves from
Barbarian
Invasions, causing a need for localized Protection
Barbarian Invasions cause the
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The
Rise of Feudalism in Europe

3. The Fall of Rome left a huge power vacuum in Western Europe
Something had to replace social, political, and economic systems that were destroyed
The new system was called…..
FEUDALISM!!
Absence of power or gov’t control

4. Feudalism--Definition
Social/political system based on ownership of land, military service to one’s superior, and loyalty between rulers and the ruled
Replaced Roman government in WE by 850

5. Feudalism
The social structure of the Middle Ages was organized around the system of Feudalism.
Feudalism in practice meant that the country was not governed by the king but by individual lords, or barons, who administered their own estates, and demanded military service from vassals.
Usually the lords could field greater armies than the king.

6. Feudalism Kings gave land to nobles Nobles gave land to knights
Land was called a manor or a fief
Anyone who received land was called a vassal
Everyone was a vassal to the king

7. Feudalism
Vassals
lords

9. European Feudalism Give Get KING Military service, loyalty
Land and peasants
NOBLES/Lords
Land, peasants, protection
Military service, loyalty
KNIGHTS/ Vassals
Land to farm, food, shelter, protection
Food, taxes, military service
PEASANTS / SERFS

10. How it works…feudalism
Feudalism was built upon a relationship of obligation and mutual service between vassals and lords.
A vassal held his land, or fief, as a grant from a lord.
When a vassal died, his heir was required to publicly renew his oath of faithfulness (fealty) to his lord.
This public oath was called "homage".

11. Many kings were little more than figurehead rulers
In theory the king was the chief feudal lord, but in reality the individual lords were supreme in their own territory.
Many kings were little more than figurehead rulers

12. Lords… A Lord's Obligations:
On the lord's side, he was obliged to protect the vassal, and give military aid
If a daughter inherited, the lord arranged her marriage.
If there were no heirs the lord disposed of the fief as he chose.

13. Knighthood
The primary duty of males above the serf class was military service. Boys were trained at an early age to become warriors.
After training was complete, the boy was “dubbed” or ceremonially tapped on the shoulder. He was then a knight, had the title of sir, and had full rights of the warrior caste.

14. Knighthood
Knighthood was grounded in the feudal ideal of loyalty. Knights had a system of social codes that they were not permitted to break.

15. Chivalry
Chivalry was a system of ideals and social codes governing the behaviors of knights.
Chivalry codes included oaths of loyalty to the lord and observing certain rules of warfare.
Chivalry brought about an idealized attitude about women, but did not improve their actual position in life.
Chivalry gave rise to a new form of literature- romance.

16. Serfs…
The Serf's Life.
Although not technically a slave, a serf was bound to a lord for life.
He could own no property and needed the lord's permission to marry.
Under no circumstance could a serf leave the land unless he chose to run away.
If he ran to a town and managed to stay there for a year and a day, he was a free man.
However, the serf did have rights.
He could not be displaced if the manor changed hands.
He could not be required to fight, and he was entitled to the protection of the lord.

17. Feudal Japan

18. Geography Archipelago(Group of Islands) Off the Coast of Asia
4 Main Islands
2,456 Smaller Islands
Slightly Smaller than California
Very Mountainous (some volcanoes)
¾ of Land
Only 11% of land can be farmed
Few Natural Resources
Fish & Rice

19. Culture Shinto 600s Painting & Sculpture Calligraphy
“Way of the Gods”
Traditional Religion
People and Spirits Interact
Painting & Sculpture
Calligraphy
Gardens & Flower Arrangement
Clothing = Kimono
Castles

20. Feudal System Bushido = Honor Code
1192: Emperor grants Title of Shogun
Shogun – “commander of a force”
Over military, Finances, & Laws
True leaders of Japan
Daimyo – “Large Lands”
Local Leaders
Samurai – “To serve”
Loyal to Daimyos
Bushido = Honor Code

21. Feudal System Shogun Daimyo Samurai Farmers & Fishermen
Emperor
Shogun
Daimyo
Samurai
Farmers & Fishermen
Artisans & Merchants

22. Daimyo were nobles who supported
Emperors ultimately ruled the land
in Japan, however, they hired a Shogun
to be military general
Daimyo were nobles who supported
the Shogun by owning and caring for large estates. Hired Samurai to
protect farms.
Samurai were armored and mounted warriors who fought to the death to protect their lord and his farm.
Peasants worked on the daimyo’s farm
and planted rice in fields called “Paddies”.
In return for work, a peasant was protected
from danger and given a place to live.