1. Brain Teaser # 2
Below are the different social ranks that there were in Medieval Times. What were the relationships between each person?
King Knights Lords
Serfs Peasants
For example: The King owned ALL of the land and gave it away (fiefs) to his favorite lords.

2. Brain Teaser # 1
Define loyalty in your own words. Then describe a situation in which it is important for someone to be loyal
LOYALTY

3. Thinking Question
Problem: The Roman Empire has just fallen and there is utter chaos in the streets… You are a King (or Queen) who needs to figure out a way of taking control of the situation. What do you do???

4. Feudal Society in Europe

5. CA Standards
7.6-3: Understand… feudalism, its role in the medieval European economy, the way in which it was influenced by physical geography (the role of the manor and the growth of towns), and how feudal relationships provided the foundation of political order.

6. In Medieval times, your social class was determined by your birth

7. If you were born poor, you died poor

8. If you were born rich, you died rich

9. The Middle Ages gave rise to some bad times

10. people worked hard just to survive & feed themselves

11. people also needed protection from nearby kingdoms & invading barbarians (wouldn’t you want to get protection from these guys???)

12. The answer to ALL your prayers…
Feudalism
The answer to ALL your prayers…

13. The feudal system brought stability to Europe

14. In Medieval times, the King owned most of the land
Back-off
Man!

15. A lot of land was also owned by the Church

16. The king kept some land for himself

17. And gave his most loyal nobles fiefs who then became his vassals
Have
Some
Land.
And gave his most loyal nobles fiefs who then became his vassals

18. Definitions Fief: Land given as a gift in exchange for service
Vassal: A person who received land in return for pledging their loyalty

19. In return, the King got access to all of the soldiers that he needed for his armies

20. These nobles would then give land to lesser nobles- who would then give land to lesser nobles- who would then give land to lesser nobles- who would then give land to lesser nobles- who would then give land to lesser nobles- who would then give land to lesser nobles… (you get the picture)

21. Peasants: were free poor people who rented land from lords

22. Serfs: Were poor people who were NOT free

23. they were bound to the land they lived on

24. And they owed their allegiance to their particular lord

25. Many lesser lords were knights: who defended the king’s lands and other nobles
SCREAM!

26. The king and lords relied on knights to protect them
Scream!
The king and lords relied on knights to protect them

27. Knights followed the idea of Chivalry

28. (The girls go wild for knights!)
Chivalry: A code of honor which stressed bravery, protection, selflessness, etc.
(The girls go wild for knights!)

29. Most everyone lived on a manor
Manor: The land owned by a noble and everything on it. A typical manor consisted of a- 1. castle
2. village
3. farmland
4. woods

30. Lords lived in the castle on the manor and were filthy rich
(The ladies liked the nobles)

31. Peasants and serfs lived in the village and worked the lord’s lands and did other things for their lord

32. Everyone was one BIG happy family thanks to feudalism!

33. Social Ranking: Let’s Break it Down!

34. Social Rank in Medieval Europe
1. KING
2. LORDS/NOBLES
3. KNIGHTS
4. PEASANTS
5. SERFS