Feudal Europe

Medieval European Society   The fall of the Roman Empire leads to a time of chaos in Europe: –No central authority –Constant warfare –Decline in learning & trade –Smaller kingdoms –Increased power of the Church  Most people reverted to farming

Feudalism   A political & social system based on military service & protection.   It worked because ALL needed the system in order to survive.   The concept of vassalage provided the structure.

KING LORDS (VASSALS TO KING) KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS) Fief and Peasants Military Aid Food Protection Shelter PEASANTS (SERFS) Pay Rent Fief and Peasants Food Protection Shelter Farm the Land Homage Military Service Loyalty Cooperation & Mutual Obligations FEUDALISM: POLITICAL SYSTEM MANORIALISM: ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Kings & Royalty   Highest position   Controlled large amounts of land   Provided fiefs (land) to nobles in exchange for loyalty & service   Lived in a Castle – –Wooden strongholds at first – –By 1100, made of stone

Nobles & Lords  Owned their fief & everything on it   Lived on a Manor   Serfs & Peasants worked the land for the lord   Provided food, services, & soldiers for their liege

Clergy  Each manor had some sort of religious building   Clergy lived in monasteries or churches on the Manor   Served the lord & people on the manor for the Church   Received land & support from the lord’s Manor

Knights   Received land from lord in exchange for fighting   Starting training as a Paige at age of 7-8   Became Squire at   Knighthood at 18 years old   Lived by code of Chivalry – –Bravery in battle – –Fight fair – –Keep promises – –Defend the Church – –Treat noble women with courtesy

Peasants   Lived in villages on the Manor  Some were freemen & worked for wages  Serfs were part of the land granted in fiefs  Remained in serfdom for life, close to slavery   Lord allowed peasants to live on land in exchange for food & services

Manorialism   An economic system supporting a lord & his vassals   The manor was an estate where the community worked in agriculture   Manors were self-sufficient, providing all of the necessary goods for its inhabitants   Barter was the usual form of exchange   Everyone had certain jobs to perform

Medieval Trade

Medieval Guilds Commercial Monopoly:   Controlled membership & wages apprentice  journeyman  master craftsman   Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece]   Controlled prices & supplies of goods

A Silversmith’s Shop

Crest of a Cooper’s Guild

Late Medieval Towns