Feudalism in Europe & The Age of Chivalry Mr. Snell HRHS

Setting the Stage Treaty of Verdun – Empire broken into 3 parts Split up even more Territory becomes battleground Political turmoil and constant warfare Feudalism – Political and economic system based on land ownership and personal loyalty.

Invaders Attack Western Europe! invasions destroy Carolingian Empire. Muslims sacked Rome in 846. Magyars came from east & terrorized Germany Vikings from the north.

Vikings Invade from the North Sailed from Scandinavia – a wintry, wooden region in Northern Europe. Vikings = Norsemen Worshipped warlike gods and took pride in nicknames. Eric Bloodaxe, Thorfinn Skullsplitter

Vikings Raided cities with lightning speed. Sword, Shield, helmets, sea ships, invade, back to sea. Gone before any defense could be organized. Viking Warships Held 300 warriors who took turns rowing the 72 oars. Could weigh 20 tons fully loaded. Could sail in 3 feet of water. Looting monasteries and villages

Vikings Not all were warriors Some include explorers, traders, and farmers. Leif Ericson – Viking explorer who reached North America 500 years before Columbus (1000 C.E.). Viking raids ended in Europe Accepted Christianity, more farming too.

Magyars & Muslims Attack! Magyars attacked from the east. Superb horseman Sold their captives into slavery. Muslims attacked from the south. 600/700s goal was to conquer 800/900s goal was the plunder

Overall Invasions The invasions by Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims caused widespread disorder and suffering. Most Western Europeans lived in constant danger! Kings could not provide defense for their land. People turned to local rulers for help/security.

A New Social Order: Feudalism Rollo – Viking head of an army, very powerful Charles the Simple – King of France, little power. Peace ceremony in 911. Charles gives land. Northmen’s Land or Normandy Rollo pledged his loyalty to the King.

Feudalism Structures Society Based on rights & obligations Lord – landowner who offered protection for return of services. Fief – granted land by a lord. Vassal – Person who received land from the lord. Charles the Simple (Lord) Rollo (Vassal) Showed how the two-sided bargain worked. Feudalism depended on control of the land.

Fief A grant of land Land was given to Knights and Vassals in exchange for military service

Peasants and Serfs Worked the land and provided fees and services to the lord

The Manorial System Manor- an agricultural estate run by a lord and worked by peasants and serfs

Harsh Manor Life Everything had a tax. Marriage Grain from the mill Living on the land Village priest got a church Tax – Tithe 1/10 th of income

The Age of Chivalry

Knights Knights – armored cavalry who pledged to defend the lord in exchange for land. Served about 40 days per year, rest of time spent training Wrestling & Hunting for training Main obligation: to serve the lord in battle!

The code of chivalry- a complex set of ideals, demanded that a knight fight bravely in defense of three masters. Earthly feudal lord, god, and his lady. Aid the poor Many knights failed at meeting the high standards. Brutality towards the poor. Tournaments – mock battles with knights that paid huge ransoms for the defeated.

Brutal Castle Warfare Tournament violence was nothing compared to castle warfare. Walls & guard towers circles castles by the 1100s. Designed as a fortress, for defense. The gory sight: Use of boiling water, hot oil, molten lead. Expert archers from the roof with armor piercing bolts.

Literature of Chilvary Troubadour – Traveling poet-musicians at the castles and courts of Europe Eleanor of Aquitaine – most celebrated woman in the land. Sons were Richard the Lion-Hearted and John.

Women in Feudal Society Most were powerless. Inferior to men. Noblewomen: Inherit estates. Send knights to war. Castle Defense (hurled rocks, fired arrows) Peasant Women: Endless field/home labor Poor and powerless