1. Feudal Society Political Structure
3.3 How was society organized during the middle ages?

2. OBJECTIVES Our lesson today is on the political structure of the
feudal system and
the importance of the
relationship between
lords and vassals during the
Middle Ages

3. Topics of Discussion Why was feudalism necessary?
Relationship Between Lords and Vassals
What is a Knight?
Workers on the Manor
The Feudal Contract
Constructing the Feudal Pyramid of Power

4. WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY?
It provided a set hierarchy, or a chain of command,
in a time of little organization .
After the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe had no strong central govt.
Cities were much smaller and were no longer economic cities bur places to huddle for protection.
Feudalism began on the latifundia of Roman times
Roman nobles needed to protect their estates but had no money to pay soldiers
Former Roman generals and their soldiers were offered land in return for their assistance in protecting the estates.
Former tenant farmers and slaves of Rome became the peasants who worked for the landed upper class in return for a protected place to live.
Some small landowners willing gave up their land to the nobles in order to have a safe haven.
Nobles who had the land also had the political power.
He made all the laws for his fief

6. The King Most Powerful of the noblemen Ruled the Kingdom
Other Noblemen were below him

7. Lords Directly below the king Generally in the king’s family
Example: Kings younger brother is a Duke. Cousins were often Earls.

8. Vassals
Vassals- lesser nobles who pledged there service to a greater lord.
Less power then the king
Feudalism was held together by the Feudal Contract, or formal pledges between Kings and Vassals.

9. Relationship Between Lords and Vassals
The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system
Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord
All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.
The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system.
Based on ties of loyalty and duty among nobles
Nobles were both lords and vassals
Ties were made official by the “act of homage”
Fiefs were given to vassals by lords
Lords gave vassals the right to govern the people who lived on their fiefs
Lords promised to give protection to the vassals
Breaking the feudal contract could mean loss of land
Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord.
Helped the lord in battle
Participated personally in military service 40 – 60 days a year
Gave money when the lord’s daughters married and when sons were knighted
Paid the lord’s ransom or took his place if he was captured
Attended the lord’s court
Provided food and entertainment when the lord visited
All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.
Nobles provided the king with knights to form an army for defense and conquest
Because of this, the real power belonged to the nobles.

10. Knights
Lesser Noble that was also a mounted warrior, or warrior on horseback.
Peasants could become Knights if “Knighted” by the King

11. What is a Knight? Almost all nobles were knights
Training began at age 7, as a page, under the guidance of the lady of the manor
Became squires at age 15 and were trained by other knights
Those deemed worthy were “dubbed” knights

12. Workers on the Manor
There were two groups of peasant workers on the manor
Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.)
Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they where the noble’s property.)
There were two groups of workers on the manor
Freemen:
Usually had a skill needed by others on the manor
Included seneschals and bailiffs who helped run the manor
- Seneschals looked after fiefs
by visiting each regularly
- Bailif made sure peasants
worked
- Towns (called shires) also had
peace-keepers known as
reeves
Serfs:
Required to work the noble’s land
Also worked their own land and gave a part of their crops to the noble
Had no freedom – they were the noble’s property
Peasants had no political power

13. Feudal Contract
LORDS
GIVE
SERVICE TO
GIVE
PROTECTION TO
VASSALS

14. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OR POWER

15. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
SERFS AND FREEMEN

16. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN

17. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN

18. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
KING
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN

19. Your Feudal Assignment
First read to gather information about Feudalism
Next write a journal entry describing a imaginary day in your life based off your feudal assignment
Finally answer the following question?
Based off your opinion, what are the pros and cons of the system of government called feudalism?

20. Let’s see how much you remember!
REVIEW
Let’s see how much you remember!
Everyone owed loyalty to the ________
_______ were really the most powerful. They got _______ from the king.
Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________ _________ in return for land
_______ were bound to the land. They worked in return for ____________.
__________ were skilled workers. They paid rent to the ______ and were free to move if they wanted to.

21. Check Your Answers Everyone owed loyalty to the king.
Nobles were really the most powerful. They got land from the king.
Lesser nobles (knights) gave military service in return for land.
Serfs were bound to the land. They worked in return for protection.
Freemen were skilled workers. They paid rent to the nobles and were free to move if they wanted to.

22. THE END
HISTORY
NOTES