1. Mr. Ermer World History Miami Beach Senior High
Feudalism
Mr. Ermer
World History
Miami Beach Senior High

2. Frankish Decline & Invaders
Carolingian Empire split in three after Charlemagne’s death; Western Frankish, Middle, Eastern Frankish kingdoms
: western Europe invaded from 3 sides
Muslims attack from south, Magyars from east, Vikings from north
Magyars: People from west Asia, moved into central Europe and settle on plains in Hungary, invade West
Vikings: Germanic Norsemen of Scandinavia

3. Invasions of Europe A.D.800-1000

4. The Vikings: Terror From The North
Invaded the European mainland in search of new trade, treasures and adventure
Sacked villages and towns, destroyed churches, easily handle small local armies
Warriors with excellent ship building skills, allowing them to sail inland on rivers and attack
By 850, Vikings build settlements in Europe
910: western Frankish king gives Vikings lands at the mouth of the River Seine, named Normandy
Frankish king required Vikings to convert to Christianity, making them a part of European civilization—not the enemy of it

5. The Vikings

6. Development of Feudalism
Lack of large, central governments makes it hard for communities to defend themselves
Regular people turn to landowning aristocrats to protect them in exchange for service, this system is called Feudalism
Warriors swear loyalty to a land-owning leader, fight for them—vassals
Leaders (Lords) would provide for vassal’s needs

7. The Feudal System

8. The Lord’s Land

9. The Art of War
Frankish warriors wore chain-mail armor, throwing spears
Bigger horses, and development of stirrups, allowed for armored soldiers, carrying long lances to act as battering rams, from armored horses—later known as knights
Eventually knights were base of aristocracy
Horses, weapons and armor=expensive; lords give some land to knights in exchange for loyalty
Little trade in Europe, means land= $ & power

10. Weaponry of the Middle Ages

11. Feudal Society
To become a vassal, a man performs act of homage to his lord
Land given to vassals, known as fief, become political domain of that vassal (almost kingdom)
As Carolingian world collapses, fiefdoms rise
System becomes more complex, as vassals have vassals who answer to them, who have vassals
The Feudal Contract: unwritten rules determining the lord-vassal relationship

12. Nobility of the Middle Ages
Society dominated by men concerned with war
Nobles=kings, lords, dukes, counts, barons and bishops who held large estates of land & power
Differences in wealth=differences in power
Young knights, with no land or responsibility, have nothing to do but fight and train for war; giving rise to tournaments where knights can show off skills
To stop abuses of power, Catholic Church introduces an ideal of civility called chivalry
Chivalry: code of ethical behavior for knights to uphold; etiquette; politeness

13. Chapter 4, Lesson 1 Review
On page 67, write and answer questions 1-5