William the Conqueror & the Introduction of Feudalism The High Middle Ages William the Conqueror & the Introduction of Feudalism

OBJECTIVES Our lesson today is designed to look at the social structure of England in the High Middle Ages and determine what impact the feudal system had on the people of different social classes.

Topics of Discussion What was life like in the HMA? How was society structured? The Feudal Contract Building social contracts Constructing the Feudal Pyramid of Power Relationship Between the Social Classes Why was it necessary?

Getting Started So what was life like in England in the High Middle Ages? Based on your reading of the story yesterday after the test, come up with 3 – 5 predictions about what life was like back then Questions to think about: Type of government? People’s rights? People’s jobs? 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.

Contracts What are contracts and why do we have them? What are some examples of contracts? What types of contracts might people use back in the HMA? What purpose would they serve?

The Feudal Contract Read pages 45 & 46 Answer questions #1 and 2c When you are finished we will discuss these!

Feudalism is… Fealty Feif Faith Must be loyal (follow rules and pay taxes/tithes) Feif Own or work on a piece of land Faith Must go to church

SO WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY? After the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe had no strong central govt. Cities were much smaller and were no longer economic cities bur places to huddle for protection. Feudalism began on the latifundia of Roman times Roman nobles needed to protect their estates but had no money to pay soldiers Former Roman generals and their soldiers were offered land in return for their assistance in protecting the estates. Former tenant farmers and slaves of Rome became the peasants who worked for the landed upper class in return for a protected place to live. Some small landowners willing gave up their land to the nobles in order to have a safe haven. Nobles who had the land also had the political power. He made all the laws for his fief

Because… Feudalism originated partly as result of Viking, Magyar, Muslim invasions Kings unable to defend their lands, lands of their nobles Nobles had to find way to defend own lands Built castles, often on hills Not elaborate structures; built of wood, used as place of shelter in case of attack

And also because… Back then, people were divided into a variety of social classes/groups How might they have been grouped? What did they base these groupings on?

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OR POWER

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER SERFS AND FREEMEN

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABOR PROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER POWERFUL NOBLES LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABOR PROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

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 AND FREEMEN

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.

Workers on the Manor There were two groups of peasant workers on 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.) Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they where the noble’s property.) 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 LORDS GIVE SERVICE TO GIVE PROTECTION TO VASSALS

The Impact of Feudalism Read page 47 Answer questions # 3a and 3b We will discuss these before doing a short review practice quiz

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.

Making Connections Comparing the Oath of Allegiance and the Canadian Oath of Citizenship How are these similar? How are these different?

THE END HISTORY NOTES