Download constructing the pyramid of power

27 April 2016
EQ – What is feudalism?
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Bellringer – Out of the 3 groups attacking Europe,
who was the most “fierce”? Where were they from?
Understanding the social system of the Middle Ages
Notes
 Video (if time)
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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo
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Homework – Read Chapter 17.3
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Shield Project due – May 6
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Feudal Society
Political Structure
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OBJECTIVES
Our lesson today is on the
political structure of the
feudal system and
the importance of the
relationship between
lords and vassals during the
Middle Ages
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Topics of Discussion
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Why was feudalism necessary?
Relationship Between Lords and Vassals
What is a Knight?
Workers on the Manor
The Feudal Contract
Constructing the Feudal Pyramid of Power
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WHY WAS FEUDALISM
NECESSARY?
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Relationship Between
Lords and Vassals
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The relationship between lords and
vassals made up a big part of the
political and social structure of the
feudal system
Vassals had certain duties to perform
for the lord
All nobles were ultimately vassals of
the king.
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OR POWER
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
SERFS, FREEMEN & PEASANTS
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS, FREEMEN & PEASANTS
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS, FREEMEN & PEASANTS
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CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID
OF POWER
The “glue”
holding it
all
together is
the
Church.
King
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
Powerful Nobles
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
Lesser Nobles (Knights)
LABOR
PROTECTION
Serfs, Freemen & Peasants
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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)
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What is a Knight?
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Almost all nobles were knights
Training began at age 7, as a page,
under the guidance of the lady of the
manor
Became squires at age 15 and were
trained by other knights
Those deemed worthy were “dubbed”
knights
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Vocabulary
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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
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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.
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Life on a manor
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo
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.
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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.
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