The Middle Ages 500AD to 1500AD

Other terms: medieval (middle time between ancient world and modern times)/Dark Ages

A social system of rights and obligations based on land ownership patterns. Share of land given was called a fief Feudalism

Lord: Land owner *swore to protect the vassal and their lands (children) Vassal: Man who promised to be faithful to the lord (a vassal could also be a lord) *served in the lords army, appeared at special gatherings, made payments when oldest daughter married and oldest son became a knight, must feed and house the lord when he travels through his land. Everyone paid taxes

Serf/Peasant Did all the work on a manor (a large estate that included houses and farmland) In return, the peasant could own a small strip of land. Serf could work some land but never owned it. Serf’s came with the manor no matter who was in charge, peasants could leave Had to get permission for everything (marriage)

Life on the Manor The manor was the lord’s estate. It had to supply all aspects of life. A manor typically covered only a few square miles of land and usually consisted of the lord’s manor house, a church, fields, pastures, and woodlands surrounded the village. Fifteen to thirty families lived in the village on a manor. It had to be a self-sufficient community because they were able to raise or produce nearly everything that they and their lorded needed for daily life.