1. Feudal Society
Your Task: Create a system that allows a society of serfs, knights, lords, and a king to exist with each person’s goals met. Get ready to write down your character’s situation and goals.

2. Monarch (King): You own all the land
Monarch (King): You own all the land. However, you may be attacked by another nation, so you need an army to be loyal to you. You don’t have the time, though, to organize this army. You’d like a little money on the side, too.
Lords: You’re rich, but you want a manor (a large piece of land) to run a town. So that you don’t get attacked by another lord, you need a loyal army. Also, you wouldn’t mind a little extra money on the side.
Knights: You’re not very rich, but you know how to fight. You want land so that others can farm it for you.
Serfs: You’re dirt poor. You want land to farm to provide for your family and you will need protection from others who want your land. However, you may have to give up some of your crops for this land and protection. Your only power is in numbers: most people in society are serfs.

3. Reflection Describe the system you came up with.
What character(s) most controlled the discussion? What character(s) have the most power in the system you created? Are these the same people?
How did you come up with your system? Did each of you fight for your goals or did you try to work together? Does the system you came up with require the characters to work together?

4. Feudalism and Other Vocab
Feudalism: a political system in which access to farm land was gained by loyalty and service (or payment) to the lord or monarch.
Fief: a gift of land in the feudal system.
Vassal: a person who holds land from a feudal lord or monarch and receives protection in return for loyalty and service (or payment).
Serf: a peasant; a member of the lowest class of the feudal system.

5. Homework (Due 1/8/08) Read pp. 183-187 in the textbook.
Copy the “Feudal Society” diagram on p. 184.
In your diagram, write one sentence between each class (e.g. between monarch and higher lord) that describes the relationship between those classes. You should have four sentences.