Feudalism in Europe

Target: At the end of the introduction section to feudalism, I will be able to:

Explain why feudalism began in Europe.Identify characteristics of feudalism and

describe what it looked like.

Feudalism Develops Because:Rome collapses and suddenly people are on

their own – who will protect them??Very unstable world: Germanic tribes

invading, Vikings start attacking.Solution: people seek out powerful lords

who could protect them…for a price

Solution: Feudalism!Feudalism: system where rich, powerful lords

offer protection to people in return for serviceLords run their own estates with their own

rulesPeople pay taxes to the lords for protectionLords are responsible for protecting people

from invaders

What is Feudalism?Feudalism is a form of government run by individual

lords who:1. Managed their own estates2. Enforced their own laws3. Made their own money4. Collected taxes and tolls5. Demanded military service from vassals (knights,

peasants, serfs). Feudalism was built on a relationship of obligation

and mutual service between vassals and lords.

Stocks

King/Clergy

Lords (Dukes, Counts, Barons,

etc)

Knights

Professionals (doctors, etc) & Merchants

Serfs/Peasants

Ob

liga

tions

of m

ilita

ry

serv

ice

an

d c

ust

om

Obligations of land and labor

Ru

lers

/No

bilit

y

Hie

rarc

hy

Social Hierarchy of the Middle Ages

Kings/ClergyKings often figureheads – not much real

powerClergy = Church

Roman Catholic Church typically has more power than the kings! (WHY??) More organized Been around longer People have more faith in the Church than their

rulers

Lords & KnightsLords more powerful than kings (usually)

Gave land to his vassals (knights)In return, knights had to serve the lord –

money, or battle service

Serfs/PeasantsMajority of people in the Middle AgesFew rights – bound to lord for life!

Needed permission to marry, travel, etcSimple housing with small farming spaceWorked first for lord (for their protection), then

for themselves

A Vassal's Obligations Attend the lord at his court

Help administer justice

Contribute money if needed

Go to battle with his men

He must feed and house the lord and his company when they visited

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD.

A U.S. Soldier's Obligations

Comparing VassalsThe Modern

American Soldier

The Armored Knight

The ManorSmallest unit of feudal government

Economic and social units of life in the early Middle Ages

Manors usually had four parts:

-Farm land

-Meadow land

-Waste land

-The village

Key to FeudalismBuilt on relationship of service and obligation

between lords, vassals, and peasantsEveryone has a place in society, and must uphold

their placeResult: many small kingdoms versus one large

empire

Thinking questions:When does this work well?What problems does it create?