1. Aim: Were feudalism and manorialism effective government and economic systems in medieval Western Europe?
Do Now: It is the zombie apocalypse. Would you rather live protected in the Government Safe Zone but have almost no freedom, or live without protection but with freedom?

2. I Feudalism
A) During the Middle Ages, most of Western Europe had a feudal system of government.

3. Feudalism Continued…
B) Kings and lords would offer land in exchange for loyalty and service. C) Feudalism provided a social hierarchy for medieval society. Anyone who owed loyalty to someone of a higher social status was known as a vassal. D) Knights were mounted soldiers who served and protected their lords. They took an oath of chivalry (code of honor) to be brave, loyal and honorable. E) Most people under feudalism were serfs. They were allowed to live on the lord’s manor (land) in exchange for crops and labor. Serfs could not leave the manor without permission.

4. Oath of Fidelity Thus shall one take the oath of fidelity:
I: An Anglo Saxon Form of Commendation [from Schmidt: Gesetze der Angelsachsen, p. 404]
Thus shall one take the oath of fidelity:
By… [God] before whom this sanctuary is holy, I will to… [my Lord] be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever… do anything which is unpleasing to him… and that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and chose his will.
According to this oath of fidelity, what is the vassal supposed to do for his lord? What is the lord supposed to do for his vassal?

5. Feudalism Continued…
F) Castles served as homes and fortresses.

6. Castle Of Counts, Ghent, Belgium

7. Ross Castle, Killarney, Ireland
A Knight Bathing after Battle

9. II Medieval Knights
A) Knights were mounted soldiers, and were vassals to their lord. B) In the early Middle Ages, knights wore chain armor. By the High Middle Ages, it became replaced by plate armor. C) When not in battle, knights would joust in tournaments (mock battles).

10. Plate Armor, Metropolitan Museum

11. III Feudal Justice
Most kings and lords did not follow a written law code. Instead, those accused of crimes faced trials by ordeal. They believed God would prove your innocence or guilt.
1. The accused had to carry a burning hot iron rod. If you developed blisters you were guilty.
2. The accused plunged their hand into boiling water. If you developed blisters you were guilty.
3. The accused was thrown into water. If you floated you were guilty.
4. The accused would battle his accuser. The loser was found
guilty.

12. 1. Trials by Ordeal

13. IV Manorialism
A) Manorialism was a medieval economic system. B) It was based around the manor (a large farm estate). Serfs (peasant farmers) worked the land in exchange for the lord’s protection and permission to live on the land. C) To maximize the amount of crops produced, serfs used crop rotation. In the 2 field system one field was planted and the other left fallow (unplanted) so the soil could regain its nutrients. By the later middle ages, the 3 field system was used; two fields were planted and the third left fallow. (This produced more crops than the 2 field system).

15. Manorialism Continued…

16. Water Mill
The force of the water moves the wheel, which moves a grindstone to grind grain into flour. A donkey attached to a grindstone was equal to 15 men, but a water mill was equal to the power of 30 – 60 men!

17. VII Exceptions to Manorialism
At this time trade still existed in Southern Europe by the Mediterranean Sea; Venice created a trade empire with the Byzantines and Muslim Arabs. After the Crusades (religious wars), trade increased across western Europe and manorialism declined.

18. Key Vocabulary
2 and 3 Field Systems Chivalry Feudalism Feudal Justice Knights Manor Manorialism Serfs Vassal

19. Summary Questions
Define feudalism and/or draw a diagram explaining the roles of lords, knights, and serfs. Do you think it was an effective system of government? Justify your answer.
Define manorialism and explain the role of lords and serfs, and the 2 and 3 field systems. Do you think it was an effective economic system? Justify your answer.
Define “code of chivalry”. What does this tell you about the role of women in medieval society?
What were the exceptions to manorialism? Why were they exceptions?
Define “feudal justice”. Was it truly justice? Justify your answer.
Pretend you are a medieval lord, knight, or serf. Write a journal entry about a day in your life.