1. Feudalism - Step 1
A political system in which kings and powerful nobles (lords) distributed land to less powerful nobles (vassals).

2. Peasants and serfs living on this land will be protected.
Feudalism - Step 2
In return these nobles promised loyalty, military assistance, and other services to the more powerful lord above him.
Feudalism - Step 3
Peasants and serfs living on this land will be protected.
STOP: In your notebook, answer the following question: what commodities are exchanged in the Feudal system?

3. FEUDALISM
It is very important that you understand the Feudal hierarchy.

4. FEUDALISM FEUDAL RELATIONSHIPS - BETWEEN LORD & VASSAL
1. Honorable relationship
Only nobles could be lords/vassals.
2. The same man can be both a lord and a vassal.
3. Very personal relationship
Each man owed loyalties and
obligations to the lord directly above
him, or to the vassal below him.

5. FEUDALISM FILL IN THE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER AS WE GO
PARTICIPANTS
KINGS
Description-
Still ruled the country, but were weak and incapable of protecting their people.
Role in Feudalism-
They granted land on their royal estate to powerful nobles in return for military service.
Pay attention to the pictures

6. FEUDALISM PARTICIPANTS LORDS Description- Obligation to King-
Powerful nobles with economic and social superiority.
Lived in castles, on land granted to them by the king.
Lords acted as the government over their lands.
Obligation to King-
Lords swear loyalty to the king and provide him with military assistance when needed.
Pay attention to the pictures

7. FEUDALISM PARTICIPANTS LORDS
Role in Feudalism-
Lords then split up their extra land and grant it to noble vassals below them.
Obligation to Vassals-
Offered protection to vassals
Treated vassals as equals
Helped organize agriculture and industry

8. FEUDALISM PARTICIPANTS VASSALS Description- Less powerful nobles.
Warriors and sometimes knights.
Skilled in war.
They received the extra land (fief) from lords.
Obligations to Lord-
Vassals swore an oath of fealty (loyalty) to their lord and promised him military assistance and other services when needed.
Pay attention to the pictures

9. FEUDALISM PARICIPANTS VASSALS Additional Obligations to the Lord-
Provided armor, swords, and cavalry for the Lords army
Paid armies while at war
Sat in the lord’s court and judged cases
Provided lodging to lord when he traveled
Offered gifts to lord’s son or daughter
Paid ransom if lord was captured
Pay attention to the pictures

10. FEUDALISM PARTICIPANTS VASSALS
Role in Feudalism-
Vassals took the land (fief) granted to them by the lord and the people already on the land, and established self-sufficient communities.
Obligations to Peasants & Serfs
Provide them with safety and protection.
Spot check: what are the differences between a lord and a vassal? (hint: make note of it in your notebooks)

11. FEUDALISM PARICIPANTS PEASANTS & SERFS Role in Feudalism-
Peasants & Serfs received protection from invaders.
Obligations to the Vassal (their lord)-
Peasants and serfs provided the labor on the Vassals land.

12. Face of the country Powerful & Rich Poverty Stricken
But kings had little power
Powerful & Rich
Upper Middle Class
&
Elite Fighters
Poverty Stricken

13. FEUDALISM

14. Feudalism KING POWERFUL NOBLES LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS)
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND PEASANTS

15. FEUDALISM Failure to Fulfill Obligations
Vassals can renounce loyalty of lord;
Fails to protect vassal
Mistreats vassal
Adds obligations that were not part of the feudal contract

16. FEUDALISM Failure to Fulfill Obligations
Lords can also opt out of contract if vassal fails to meet their obligations.
Vassals then tried for treachery
Vassals could lose fief or life if guilty

17. FEUDALISM Feudal Justice Trial by Battle - Duel
Compurgation (oath-taking) - Witnesses
Ordeal - Healing ability

18. FEUDALISM Warfare Kingdom vs Kingdom Lord vs Lord Lord vs Vassal
Vassal vs Peasants
There was constant war during the middle ages

19. Early feudal knight “fighting man”
FEUDALISM
Warfare
Knights fought for lords
Highly skilled soldiers from noble families
Charged fee for fighting
Excepted land as payment
Warfare brought nobles the opportunity to acquire wealth & glory
Early feudal knight “fighting man”

20. FEUDAL WEAPONS

21. FEUDALISM Warfare Society suffered The Church tried to regulate war
Peace of God
Truce of God
Enforcement was a problem

22. FEUDALISM Chivalry Code of conduct for knights Bravery Loyalty Respect
Courtesy and Manners
Helped improve behavior
Coats of arms became badges of nobility

23. You’re about to start section 2 of the Feudalism Unit

24. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM
This was the economic system during the Middle Ages.
Manor - an almost completely self-sufficient community.
Manor house
Church
Pastures
Fields
Mills
Villages
peasants and serfs
3 field system -->

25. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Overview Domain
Manors need to import salt, metals, and iron
The lord keeps 1/3 of the land for himself
Domain

26. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Overview The other 2/3 is rented out to peasants
They work their land and give the lord part of their crops to pay rent
They pay additional taxes
Serfs & peasants do all the backbreaking work, in return they are protected by the lord

27. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Lord / Vassal Clergy Oversaw production
Provided safety and protection
Clergy
Handled religious duties
Administered sacraments

28. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Nobility Housing
A Manor Home or an early version castle
was home to the lord.
These early structures were built for defense
not comfort.
Large stone castles come later in the middle ages
Early Mott Bailey Style Castle

29. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Nobility Clothing
Bright colors, nice material, and long jackets were a sign of wealth
Women wore long gowns &
headdresses
Linen tunic
Head dress

30. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Nobility Food
Meat (read meats, pork, poultry)
Cooked and delivered by servants
Fresh bread, vegetables and wine

31. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Nobility Entertainment
Juggling
Feasts & banquets
Jousting & tournaments
Music

32. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Nobility Women
Many women were educated in etiquette, dance, and music.
Monitored servants

33. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Clergy Housing
Local priests lived in small
homes next to the church
Clothing
Priests wore black
Bishops wore white, red, gold

34. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Backbone of the manor Skilled Peasants
Free people who could rent land from their lord
Paid rent in the form of labor & taxes
Millers, Blacksmiths, Carpenters, and Stonemasons
Repaired and built buildings, roads, and villages
Made armor, weapons, furniture
Worked long days, 6 days a week

35. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Backbone of the manor
Additional Requirements of Peasants
Plowed fields
Planted grains & vegetables in the fields
Harvested agricultural products

36. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Backbone of the manor Serfs Bound to the land
Restrictions to freedom
Produced food for the manor
Provided labor intense work in the fields & cared for livestock
Terrible living conditions
Worked long days, 6 days a week

37. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM A typical day in the life of a serf

38. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Peasants & Serfs Housing
Dirty, muddy, smoky, cold, damp
One room shared by family & livestock
Mud floors, leaky thatch roofs

39. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Peasants & Serfs Clothing
Cheap tunics made from wool or sheepskin
Long wool dresses
Rope belts Serfs wore “Dog Tags”

40. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor - Peasants & Serfs Food
Dark bread made out of rye grain.
They ate stew with vegetables from garden in it.
Peasants did not eat much meat.
They could hunt rabbits or hares but might be punished for this by their lord.
And Beer….

41. THE MANORIAL SYSTEM Life on the Manor – Peasants & Serfs Entertainment
Village Festivals
Traveling Troubadours
Story Telling
Drinking

42. MANORIALISM Life on the Manor – Peasants & Serfs Women Livestock
Clothes making
Baking
Cared for children

43. PEASANT & SERF COMPARISON VENN DIAGRAM
Serfs
Both
Not bound to land - Free
they could leave manor
Could rent land
Paid rent in labor & taxes
Skilled in different trades
Bound to land
No freedom
Couldn’t leave or marry
without approval
If land was sold, serfs stayed
Wore “dog tags”
Worked for lord
Received protection
Lived in village

44. END OF SECTION 2
ACTIVITY

45. END OF SECTION ACTIVITY
YOUR MISSION
You are playing the role of a Noble Vassal during the Middle Ages in Europe.
You are new to the area and would like to acquire a fief from a lord.
You are in luck as a few lords are actually looking to grant land to qualified candidates.
In order to acquire the land, you will have to go on a job interview.

46. END OF SECTION ACTIVITY
You will be interviewing with 3 powerful lords.
At the interview you will need a resume highlighting your objective, personal characteristics, prior experience as a vassal, and a list of the obligations you intend to fulfill. (see resume example)
You will also have to impress the lords during a face-to-face interview.
At the interview, be prepared to answer 4 questions from the lords.
You also need to prepare at least 1 question to ask the lords. (Think of what a vassal would want from his lord based on the roles of feudalism)

47. VASSAL RESUME

48. INTERVIEWING First Second Third Last Handshake
Eye contact & confidence
Be Prepared, KNOW YOUR FACTS!
Have questions ready