Download Constructing the Pyramid of Power 2017

24 April 2017
EQ – What is feudalism & why was it
needed?
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
Bellringer – 17.1-17.2 Review Sheet (grab from the
front table as you come in)
Understanding the social system of the Middle Ages
Notes
 Video (if time)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo
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Homework – Read Chapter 17.3
Assessment on Thursday over Chapter 17.1 – 17.3
1
Feudal Society
Political Structure
2
CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID
OF POWER
The Church
King
–
LOYALTY AND
LAND
The glue
SERVICE
that holds
the feudal
Powerful Nobles
society
LAND AND
LOYALTY AND
PROTECTION
together. InMILITARY SERVICE
the Middle
Ages the
Lesser Nobles (Knights)
church
PROTECTION
dominated LABOR
everyone’s
lives.
Serfs, Freemen & Peasants
.
4
Vocabulary
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Nobles/lords - Below the king (vassal of the king),
they controlled most peoples' lives.
Vassal - a knight who promised to support a lord
in exchange for land
Homage – ceremony in which a man became a
vassal of a lord
Knight - A soldier of high military rank – on
horseback (normally gives 40 days military
service)
5
Vocabulary
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
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Fief – Usually land given in exchange for loyalty
Serf - A serf was bound to a lord and manor for
life to work the land
Freemen – skilled workers who paid rent and
could leave the land as they wished
Manor - manor consisted of a manor house, a
village(s), and up to several thousand acres of
land
Feudal Contract – An agreement between lords
and vassals in which land was exchanged for
service
6
The Medieval Set-up
The king then splits his land up between
his lords (usually nobles, or related in
some way to the king!) They must
provide loyalty and service to the king
for the land or it will be taken away!
The land is called a fief.
The king controls his land and
kingdom, but he needs protection.
There isn’t tons of money available,
so he uses land instead!
The lords then split their fiefs into manors and assign a knight to each. The knight provides
military service to the lord and king and protects the lower people living on the manor.
Under the knights are the peasants, serfs, and freemen who live on the manor.
7
Life on a manor
8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo
CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
King
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
Powerful Nobles
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
Lesser Nobles (Knights)
LABOR
PROTECTION
Serfs, Freemen & Peasants
REVIEW
Let’s see how much you remember!
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Everyone owed loyalty to the ________
_______ were really the most powerful.
They got _______ from the king.
Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________
_________ in return for land
_______ were bound to the land. They
worked in return for ____________.
__________ were skilled workers. They
paid rent to the ______ and were free to
move if they wanted to.
14
Check Your Answers
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Everyone owed loyalty to the king.
Nobles were really the most powerful.
They got land from the king.
Lesser nobles (knights) gave military
service in return for land.
Serfs were bound to the land. They
worked in return for protection.
Freemen were skilled workers. They
paid rent to the nobles and were free
to move if they wanted to.
15
THE END