Knights, Castles, and Kings…Oh My!

The Middle Ages The time period between Ancient and Modern times No European countries exist Without boundaries, kings need help protecting their land

Feudalism A form of government based on loyalty Designed to protect the king’s land Used throughout Europe, the Middle East and Japan Feudalism looks like a pyramid

The Feudal Pyramid: SERFS AND FREEMEN

The Feudal Pyramid: LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) SERFS AND FREEMEN LABOR PROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

The Feudal Pyramid: POWERFUL NOBLES LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABOR PROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

The Feudal Pyramid: KING POWERFUL NOBLES LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LOYALTY AND SERVICE LAND POWERFUL NOBLES LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABOR PROTECTION SERFS AND FREEMEN

Feudalism: Break it Down To help protect his land, the king gives chunks of land to nobles that he trusts Fief: Chunk of land given to a noble by the king In return, the nobles stayed loyal to the king and paid him with crops from his manor

The Manor: A Noble’s Fief

All in a Knight’s Work To protect their fief, nobles give pieces of their fief to knights that they trust In return, knights followed a code of chivalry (honorable behavior), stayed loyal to their noble, fought to protect their noble and paid him with crops from his land

Serf’s Down Forced to work for the nobles Serf = Peasant (Lowest class in the Feudal pyramid) Forced to work for the nobles Forced to stay on the manor where they lived Forced to pay nobles with crops, in return, they get protection from the noble’s knights

The Power of the Church The teachings of the Roman Catholic Church taught people to accept their place in the feudal pyramid The Church taught that it was the soul that mattered so hardships faced during life would lead believers to eternal life in heaven

The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions. II. Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them. IV. Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born. V. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. VI. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy. VII. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God. VIII. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word. IX. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone. X. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. * Adapted for use from Chivalry by Leon Gautier