1. Feudalism I. After the Fall of Charlemagne
1. No strong central government
2. Cities became unsafe
3. Money became worthless
-What did people value when $
became worthless?
-LAND
4. Landowners became rulers
-”Land Lords” or “Lords”
-Lords maintain law and order
-Manorial System
-Feudalism

2. II. Feudalism 1. Lords a. Powerful landowners 2. Knights / Vassals
a. Warriors who protected Lord
given land as payment
3. Fief / Feud
a. Land given to a Knight or Vassal

3. II. Feudalism continued…
4. Lord & Knight’s Contract
a. Knight Promised
-Military protection
-Payment of taxes
-Entertain the Lord
-Protect Lord from capture
b. Lord Promised
-Land
-Military equipment
-Maintain roads, buildings
-Issue law and order
-Serve as a Judge
  Feudal System

4. II. Feudalism continued…
5. Breakdown of Feudalism
a. Boost in trade
-rebuilt cities
-new jobs available
b. Money increased in value
-people left manors
-find city jobs
c. Invention of armor piercing arrows
-Knights became obsolete

5. III. The Manorial System
*Self-sufficient
Able to run by itself, without outside support
1. Manor-
a. Plot of land owned by the Lord
-Including the Castle or Manor House
2. Serfs-
a. poor working class who worked on the Manor
3. Castle-
a. Fortified mansion designed to repel attackers
4. Lord & Vassal Contract
a. See slide 3
5. Tournament
a. Contests between Knights
-joust, race, games, etc…
-entertain the Lord