1. Feudal System

2. Context Western Roman Empire falls around 390 CE -Two structures rise in order to fill the vacuum that is left behind: A) Feudal System B) Roman Catholic Church

3. Key Terms Feudalism: the political system that dominates Europe during this time period. Manorialism: the economic system that exists during the European Feudal Age. –Feudal “Manor” consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and the surrounding farm land.

4. The Church Provided –Divine authority to Kings and Queens through the Bible In Return –Kings and Queens gave large sums of money and armies made up of knights to the Church

5. Kings and Queens Provided: –Positions of authority to Lords and Ladies via: Fiefs (Land Grants) Serfs (Peasants) In Return: –Lords and Ladies gave: Military Aid / Money Resources Loyalty

6. Lords and Ladies (Vassals) * Vassal – Landholder under a Queen and King Provided: –Money and food to Knights –Places to Live –Protection In return: –Knights gave military service / Loyalty –Money and goods that they collected from serfs and townspeople

7. Knights (Vassals) Provided: –Protection of serfs and townspeople from bandits –Farm land, etc… –Shelter to serfs and townspeople In Return: –Serfs farmed the land –Paid rent or other services owed

8. Peasants/Serfs *Serf: agricultural labor tied to fief Provided: –Labor to cultivate fields, work in the mines, care for domesticated animals all owned by the Lord and Lady of the town In return: –Allowed to keep some of raw goods for families and protection from thieves –Place to live, but tied to land and not allowed to leave

9. Merchants/Farmers/Craftsmen Provided: –Goods, trade, food to townspeople (local economy) and local Lords and Ladies (rent of land) In return: –Protection from thieves –Able to travel freely from town to town

10. How does this system of politics and economics – reflect a decentralized system?