15 April 2016 Bellringer – What happened to Rome’s land after the Empire collapsed? Without an empire, what happened to the people of Europe? Life in the Middle Ages – Packet pg 4 PowerPoint How feudalism works HW : 17.2 Notes/Vocab Bring your book!!!

Feudal Society Political Structure

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER King LOYALTY AND SERVICE LAND Powerful Nobles LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE Lesser Nobles (Knights) LABOR PROTECTION Serfs, Freemen & Peasants

Vocabulary Review Nobles/lords- vassals of the kings and queens Vassal – a knight who promised to support a lord in exchange for land Homage – ceremony in which a man became a vassal of a lord Knights- warriors who fought on horseback Fief – land given in exchange oath of loyalty Feudal Contract – An agreement between lords and vassals in which land was exchanged for service

Workers on the Manor Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they belonged to the manor.) Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.) Manor- a large estate owned by a king or lord There were two groups of workers on the manor Freemen: Usually had a skill needed by others on the manor Included seneschals and bailiffs who helped run the manor - Seneschals looked after fiefs by visiting each regularly - Bailif made sure peasants worked - Towns (called shires) also had peace-keepers known as reeves Serfs: Required to work the noble’s land Also worked their own land and gave a part of their crops to the noble Had no freedom – they were the noble’s property Peasants had no political power

Feudal Contract Add this to your notes! LORDS GIVE SERVICE TO GIVE PROTECTION/LAND TO VASSALS

Relationship Between Lords and Vassals The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king. The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system. Based on ties of loyalty and duty among nobles Nobles were both lords and vassals Ties were made official by the “act of homage” Fiefs were given to vassals by lords Lords gave vassals the right to govern the people who lived on their fiefs Lords promised to give protection to the vassals Breaking the feudal contract could mean loss of land Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord. Helped the lord in battle Participated personally in military service 40 – 60 days a year Gave money when the lord’s daughters married and when sons were knighted Paid the lord’s ransom or took his place if he was captured Attended the lord’s court Provided food and entertainment when the lord visited All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king. Nobles provided the king with knights to form an army for defense and conquest Because of this, the real power belonged to the nobles.

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER King LOYALTY AND SERVICE LAND Powerful Nobles LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE Lesser Nobles (Knights) LABOR PROTECTION Serfs, Freemen & Peasants

Let’s see how much you remember! REVIEW Let’s see how much you remember! Everyone owed loyalty to the ________ _______ were really the most powerful. They got _______ from the king. Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________ _________ in return for land _______ were bound to the land. They worked in return for ____________. __________ were skilled workers. They paid rent to the ______ and were free to move if they wanted to.

Check Your Answers Everyone owed loyalty to the king. Nobles were really the most powerful. They got land from the king. Lesser nobles (knights) gave military service in return for land. Serfs were bound to the land. They worked in return for protection. Freemen were skilled workers. They paid rent to the nobles and were free to move if they wanted to.

THE END HISTORY NOTES