1. Lords and Ladies

2. Feudalism
Kings lost their power and nobles became more powerful

3. Feudalism Landowning nobles soon gained power to collect taxes
They gained power to enforce laws
When invaders came into Europe, peasants or farmers could not rely on kings, but looked to nobles for protection

4. Feudalism
Under feudalism land owning nobles governed and protected the people in return for services such as farming the land or fighting in the nobles army.

5. Feudalism
By 1000 AD the kingdoms of Europe were divided into thousands of feudal territories.
Some were large, most were small.
Most smaller than the Greek City-States

6. Feudalism
At the center of the territories were the noble’s castles

7. Feudalism Vassals and Knights
Feudalism was based on ties of loyalty and duty among nobles
Nobles were both lords and vassals
Vassals- was a noble who served a lord of higher rank

8. Feudalism Vassals and Knights
Tie between a lord and a vassal was made known through a public ceremony.
In return a lord granted a vassal land and allowed him to rule the people who worked it.

9. Feudalism Vassals and Knights
This grant to a Vassal was known as a Fief.
These Vassals were knights or warriors who fought on horseback
The Knights wore coats of armor made from metal links

10. Feudalism Vassals and Knights Knights carried swords and shields.
The invention of the stirrup around 700 AD allowed knights to sit on a horse and charge while holding a lance or long spear.

11. Feudalism The Manorial System Manors- lands of the fiefs .
Lords ruled the manor
Peasants worked the land
Some peasants were free and paid the nobles to work the land

12. Feudalism The Manorial System Most peasants were serfs
Serfs- could not leave the manor, own property, or marry without the lords approval

13. Feudalism The Manorial System
Serfs were not enslaved and lords could not buy or sell them nor take away their land.
Serfs in most cases though were not considered free

14. Feudalism The Manorial System
Lords also had a duty to protect the serfs and provide them with safety.

15. Feudalism The Manorial System
If a serf ran away to a town and stayed there over a year the serf would be considered free.