Download Feudalism 101 - Northside Middle School

Feudalism 101
What is Feudalism?

Charles Martel created Feudalism!

He needed an army to fight the Muslims invading
France, so he started giving estates (large farms) to
nobles willing to fight for him.

Nobles would use resources from the estates to obtain
weapons and horses.

Since the common people could not rely on the kings
to protect them, they relied on the nobles instead.

This created a new social order known as Feudalism!
Feudalism

Under feudalism, land owning nobles governed
and protected the people in return for services
(army, farm land)

Kingdoms were divided into feudal territories.

In the center of each was a noble’s castle or
fortress
All paid taxes
to the
Church, even
the King
The
church
provided
protection
and jobs
Role of Vassals and Knights

Vassal:_______________________________________________
 The
grant given to the vassal was known as a fief
(FEEF)
 When
a Vassal was given land and permission to rule
the people on the land, in return for his military
service, he became known as a knight.
 Knights:___________________________________________
The Manorial System

The lands of the fiefs (grants) were called manors.

Lords ruled the manors, and peasants worked on the
land.

Some peasants were free, and paid the nobles to farm
on the land.
 They
had rights under the law and go move and go
wherever they wished.
Serfs

Most peasants were serfs.
 They could not leave the manor, own property, or marry
without the Lord’s permission.
 They were NOT slaves (they could not be sold or take
away land from the serfs)
 They spent 3 days working for Lords, and the rest of the
week growing food.
 They would give a portion of the crops to the lord and
pay him for the use of the village’s mill, bread oven, and
wine press.
Serfs

It was not easy to gain freedom for serfs.
 They
could run away to the towns
If
he stayed in that town for a year, he was
free
 By
the end of the Middle Ages, they could
pay their way to freedom.
Key terms

Fief = land given in return for military service, a
promise to defend it, and oath of loyalty

Tithe = tax that serfs paid (tax or rent)
Children




All children were raised by parents who gave little input
when it came to caring for the child. The children were
quickly expected to join the adult world. It was common
to find a peasant child working at a young age and
being completely illiterate.
Children were taught to be timid and to respect
authority. A proverb common to the time period was,
"spare the rod and spoil the child."
During the Medieval Times, a child was put under
complete control of his/her father until the age of 12.
Girls usually got married or were sent to work in a
household by age 12. You didn’t have any say in where
or who you went with .
School?



At age 12, children of nobles or the rich were put
into elementary schools for two years.
After 14, only boys were allowed to continue into
grammar schools were Latin was taught. These
boys usually became monks or worked for nobles
as record-keepers
Girls and peasants were not educated at all.