Government Changed

Roman EmpireThe Romans controlled from a central authority - the emperor.

Middle Ages• Authority was decentralized to the local

lords • Each lord controlled land called fiefdoms • Lords protected and maintained justice in

their fiefdoms

Feudalism• Feudalism is the system of obligations that bound lords and their subjects in Europe during much of the Middle Ages.

• -In theory, the king owned the land and gave it to his generals in return for their loyalty and military services. (Lords)

• -The nobles in turn gave part of the land to their best soldiers (knights)

• - All these landowners allowed peasants, including serfs, to farm and live on in return for a portion of their produce.

• -Under feudalism, people were born with a permanent position in society

What do you think this is?

Is this what started it all?

• “This is one of the most important inventions

in World History! Why do you think that is?”

The Stirrup changed warfare

• A mounted horseman, firmly planted in the saddle, could use weapons from his high position on horseback. – such as the lance,

sword, or mace• The army that had the most

horsemen on the battlefield was superior.

So now the question

becomes:

How do I get more horsemen into my army?

Let’s Make a Deal!The Lord will give what ever the warrior needs in return for loyal support and military expertise. • basic needs (food and shelter) • enough help to maintain their fighting

equipment and skills.

At the heart of this deal island for loyalty!

This relationship betweenthe Lord and the Vassal is called

Feudalism

When a Lord and a Vassal (usually a Knight) came into this agreement, a contract was signed.

• An agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specific.

• An agreement enforceable by law

“Oath of Fidelity”Thus shall one take the oath of fidelity:

By the Lord before whom this sanctuary is holy, I will to be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all

which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through

word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him, on condition that he will hold to me as I shall deserve it, and

that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and chose his will. 1) What role does religion play in this feudal contract?

2) What does the vassal pledge to the lord?3) What does the lord pledge to the vassal?

4) How is this similar and different from contracts created today?

Feudal Contracts

1) Homages Paid by the Counts of Champagne2) Blanche, countess palatine of Troyes

3) Capitulary Concerning Freemen and Vassals, 8164) John of Toul's Homage(respect & honor) to the Count of

Champagne

What are the duties of the vassal in each of the contracts?

Who did the contracts benefit?

Who appears to be left out?

So what is Feudalism?1. The political, legal and

social system2. evolved in W Europe in

the 700-800’s AD3. Lords protected and

maintained their Vassals,4. usually through the

granting of fiefs (land)5. Vassals were required to

serve under them in war6. Vassals were served by

Serfs who did the daily work.

So what makes up feudalism?

Lord, Vassal, Fief, Chivalry: these four basic

components are what held feudalism together in the

Middle Ages.

Lord – Vassal:

• Relationship between freemen where the Lord (Superior) receives loyalty and services from his Vassal(s) in exchange for land (fief, fee, fealty).

Fief, Fee, Fealty

• land given by the lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and services, most often Military service.

Chivalry: The code of honor, ethics, and conduct

that held it all together. Without this

code that protected the practices of the

noblemen, the system would not be able to

function; chaos would ensue.

Some other key conceptsPrimogeniture: the first born male

inherits the whole fief from his father. He must swear an oath of

loyalty to the lord.• The fief stays intact .

• Continuity for the serfs.• But the little brothers get ZIP.

Marriage: Noble marriages were arranged by the family for political and economic purposes. The wife enters the marriage with a dowry

(wealth of some type).