Feudalism in Middle Ages Europe Feudalism = a political and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances

Why? Invaders Attack Western Europe The Vikings Invade from the North Warlike Vikings raid Europe from Scandinavia—Denmark, Norway, Sweden Viking long ships sail in shallow water, allowing raids inland

A sketch of a Viking longboat

More Invaders … Magyars and Muslims Attack from the East and South Magyars (Hungarian nomads) invade western Europe in late 800s Muslims strike north from Africa, attacking through Italy and Spain =Viking, Magyar, Muslim invasions cause widespread disorder, fear, suffering

Religion & Feudalism are the answers…. Why?

The answers…. Religion (Christianity) Offers hope, comfort, guidance, promise of a better afterlife, etc.. Feudalism PROTECTION (in the absence of a strong central leader)

A New Social Order: Feudalism Feudalism Structures Society After Charlemagne, feudalism emerges—political system based on land control A NOBLE lord (landowner) gives fiefs (land grants) in exchange for services NOBLE Vassals—people who receive fiefs— become powerful landholders This is an arrangement between NOBLES!!!

The basis of power and wealth under the feudal system is….

LAND (fiefs)

A New Social Order: Feudalism

The Feudal System& Manor System Monarchs/kings (feudal system) Lord/high ranking nobles (Feudal system) Vassals/knight/lower ranking nobles (feudal system) Peasants (free and serfs) (manor system) Loyalty and military service Labor/food land Land/protection protection

A New Social Order: Feudalism Social Classes Are Well Defined Medieval feudal system classifies people into categories those who fight: noble lords & knights – FEUDAL SYSTEM those who work: peasants (free and serfs) – MANOR SYSTEM those who pray: monks, nuns, leaders of the Church Social class is usually inherited majority of people are peasants Serfs generally accept their lives as part of God’s plan

Monarchs Top of society (“God intended people to be superior to others” – Divine Right) Weaker after Charlemagne Still considered highest authority deserving respect and loyalty (symbolic power) Over time, lost power to lords = became like a very powerful lord with several manors rather than a king

Noble Lords – most “real” power Owned lots of land Used “private armies” of vassals to defend territory Gave fiefs (plots of their land) to those vassals as payment Lived on Manors = castle/manor house & farming estate (see p.527 in textbook) Built for living and defense

Power to rule over their own land since monarchs didn’t have “muscle” Defend land Oversee workers/appoint officials to do so act as a judge Fought for/supply forces for king/higher lords Time spent hunting, fishing, being entertained by musicians, jesters, etc..

LADIES = focus on children, running household, cooking, sewing, overseeing servants Ran manors when men at war (including accounting) Could hold fiefs and inherit land in some places Hunting, hawking, chess, reading, sewing, in leisure time

DOWNSIDES???? WAR Gloomy, cold, drafty castles Little privacy Diseases Fleas and lice Bath possibly weekly, clothes not washed daily

Noble Vassals Nobles with less power than lords Trained as knight starting at age 7 Page (about age 7)- education in chivalry Code of chivalry -MANNERS Obedience (to lords, respect for noblewomen, honor church) Helping those in trouble Honesty and honor in battle Squire (about age 14) –knight/servant in training Knight (early 20s)

Pledged loyalty and military service to lords FOR LIFE in “act of homage” ceremony Military service most important Defensive battles = serve as long as necessary Offensive battles = after 6 weeks = extra pay! Typically did not fight in winter/fall

Give advice (when asked), financial help (marriage, battles), need approval to give land to the church Received protection (i.e. strength in numbers) and fiefs Participate in tournaments for sport, exercise, and 1-1 battle

Peasants Majority of people Basic, crowded, wood frame cottages with thatched roofs, dirt floors, straw for beds Worked year round Harvest grain, oats, barley, peas, beans, slaughter livestock, shear sheep, tend vegetable gardens, etc.. Carpenters, shoemakers, metalworkers, etc.. BREAKs during Catholic feast days/holidays

Attended Sunday worship services Women Work in fields AND raise children Prepared food for family! Bread, vegetables, milk, nuts, fruit, eggs, meat, ale to drink, pork Used herbs to make food taste better when not fresh Poor diet, illness, malnutrition make life expectancy 35 years

Had to pay taxes whenever lord needed money Fee to marry Had to use the lord’s mill & bakery And pay! pay a tithe to priest Tithe—a church tax—is equal to one-tenth of a peasant’s income

Peasants – majority of people Free Paid lord for use of land (in food) Could leave at will Could be forced to leave Serfs (most peasants) people lawfully bound to place of birth (property/prisoners of land) Can’t move, marry, own property without lord’s permission Serfs aren’t slaves, but what they produce belongs to their lord Guaranteed protection (Lord had a duty to protect) Can’t be bought, sold, or kicked off land

The Manor System: The Economic Side of Feudalism The Lord’s Estate/Manor has an economic need (manor system) Serfs and free peasants maintain the lord’s estate, pay rent & taxes with food/labor The lord provides housing, farmland, protection

Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism A Self-Contained World Medieval manors include lord’s manor house/castle, church, workshops, village Manors can cover a few square miles of land- like a privately owned village This system allows manors to be self- sufficient and produce everything needed for survival

Japanese Feudalism Samurai emperor Shoguns & then Daimyo Peasants monarch Noble lords Noble vassals/knights ≈

Samurai (“to serve”) Part of private armies to protect land of the nobles Fought on horseback with swords, daggers, bows & arrows Armor of leather or steel tied with silk (see p.494 in textbook) Code of BUSHIDO (loyalty, courage, honor) Training begins around age 10 in with lords; Educated in martial arts, math, astronomy; warriors by about age 16

European Vs. Japanese Feudalism Western EuropeJapan ReligionChristianity; influenced art & architecture Buddhism (life to come), Shinto (daily life); influenced art & architecture Life of PeasantsMAJORITY; Worked year round, largely farming MAJORITY; Worked year round, largely farming(wheat, rice, millet, barley) Life of WomenPeasants = worked in fields, raise children, prepared food, etc. ALL expected to obey father & son; poor families = work in fields, raise children, cooked, spun/wove cloth; wealthy = arranged marriages to benefit family