Ch 15, Sec 2: Feudalism

Main Ideas:How did feudalism start?How did feudalism work?

What was life like in Medieval Europe?

Post-Charlemagne Europe

• A.D. 1000• Kings did not have control of huge countries• Nobles had the power of small areas of land• Feudalism:– Landowning nobles controlled and protected the

people in return for services and loyalty.

How feudalism works

Nobles

• Under the king• King gave them power

to control small plots of land• Had vassals under them• Pledged loyalty to the king• Gave the king troops to fight wars

Vassals/knights

• people who served under higher ranking nobles

• Protected the nobles• Ran/belonged in

the armies• Given land called

fiefs for their service• Was in charge of smaller plots of land• Fought wars/protected the Nobles/King

New Technology 700 A.D.-1200 A.D.

• Knights:– Rode horses– Had chain mail and armor– Used swords and shields– Used a lance (spear)

Peasants/serfs

• Poor people who lived on the knights’/nobles’ land

• Farmers and city people• Worked on the lord’s land 3 days a week in

return for protection from the knights• Owned by whoever owned the land they

worked on

Manors

• Plots of land owned by the lords• Ran by wives when the men went to war• Had free peasants and serfs work the land• Serfs– Could not leave the land– Could not marry without permission– Could not own property– Escaped for freedom in towns or bought their

freedom

New Technology in Farming

• Iron plows-broke up the soil easier• Horse collar-put on horses to pull the plows• Both inventions allowed for more food to be

planted/grown• Rotated crops on 3 fields keeping soil fertile

Code of Chivalry

• A code explaining how knights/nobles should act.

• Knights:– Obey their nobles– Be brave/honest– Fight fair– Respect women and children– Go to church– Help others

How did people live?

• Nobles:– Lived in castles surrounded by farm land

• Peasants:– Lived in wood framed

cottages covered in clay– 1-2 rooms– Straw roofs– Worked year around accept for Sundays and Catholic

feast days

Benefits of Feudalism

• More food was grown/produced• Bridges and roads were fixed/created• Thieves were arrested• Law and order was restored• Trade increased• Created banks• Towns grew bigger– Venice, Italy– Flanders, Belgium

People Living in Cities

• Paid taxes to nobles• Had more freedom

than farmers• Could buy/sell property• Did not have to serve in the army• Males could become citizens and elect gov’t

officials

Rise of a Middle Class

• Towns offered people the chance to find new jobs

• Guilds-business groups based on types of jobs– Ex: tanners, carpenters, bakers, blacksmiths, etc– Set prices for goods– Decided who could join

the guilds– Apprentice-journeyman, master

City Life

• Very crowded• Houses were 2-3 stories tall• Dirty, smelly, and full of disease• Could not use the river for drinking water• Men worked in guilds

Women in the City

• Worked at home and with their husbands• Could take over their husband’s job if he died• Could have their own jobs to make extra

money

Sources

• http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/feudalism.htm

• World History: Journey Across Time textbook• Google Images