Feudalism and Migrations

Migrants Nomadic and semi-nomadic groups raided throughout Europe, increasing instability – Angles and Saxons – Magyars – Muslims – Vikings

Migrants The Angles and Saxons invaded modern England and established several small kingdoms around 500 AD.

Migrants The Magyars were a nomadic group from Central Asia who moved into present day Hungary (Eastern Europe) – Excellent horsemen who raided villages and captured slaves – Did not establish permanent settlements

Migrants Even though the Muslims were defeated at the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, they continued to raid Mediterranean islands and the Southern coast of Europe. – The Mediterranean Sea became a “Muslim lake” until the 1500s

Migrants The Vikings were a Germanic group from the Scandinavian peninsula.

Migrants – The weather was cold and farming difficult, so Vikings raided neighboring areas for food and wealth.

Migrants –Vikings used their longships to conquer their neighbors Strong enough to travel on the ocean, but shallow enough to travel up rivers Vikings also traded along European rivers, traveling as far as Russia, Constantinople and Italy

Migrations – Viking groups also colonized Iceland, Greenland and N. America (briefly) Vikings converted to Christianity Global temperature increased – More Vikings settled into farming – These events caused a decline in Viking raids by around the year 1200 AD.

Feudal Society Feudalism – a political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king – In exchange for loyalty, military service, and protection Social classes were very clearly defined People couldn’t marry outside of their own social class

Feudal Society Lords - wealthy landowners – Would grant the use of land (a fief) to a vassal Vassal – person who receives a grant of land from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service All were protected by knights

Feudal Society Knights – in medieval Europe, an armored warrior who fought on horseback –Professional fighters –Followed the code of Chivalry

Feudal Society – Code of Chivalry – code of behavior for knights stressing courage, loyalty, and devotion – Medieval armies had few knights because armor, weapons, and horses were expensive

–Tournaments and games like jousting and sword fighting were used to train knights.

Feudal Society Vassals had few rights and depended on the lord for protection and land –Many vassals were serfs Serf – medieval peasant legally bound to live and work on a lord’s land

Feudal Society Serfs had few rights – They had to farm the lord’s land or give him a share of their crops – They had to pay to grind grain – Marriages had to be approved by the lord (and were then taxed)

Feudal Society – In times of war, serfs were expected to perform military service for the landowner They were given basic training and equipment Maybe led by a single knight

Feudal Society A Serf’s Life: – Most serfs lived, worked and died within 25 miles of where they were born – Most were illiterate – Life was short and hard for serfs average life expectancy: years – About 1/3 of children died

Feudal Society –Only source of hope for serfs: the Catholic Church –The feudal villages were organized by social class, with the lord living away from the vassals This is the Manoral System

Manors Each medieval village was mostly self-sufficient They farmed their own food, chopped their own firewood, quarried their own stones, etc. –Self-sufficient - not requiring aid from anyone else

Manors Manor – a lord’s estate in feudal Europe. – Manors separated people by social class – Manors were often protected by castles

Manors As castles grew in size and strength, vassals began to depend more on the lord for protection – strengthened the feudal system