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SSWH7 The student will analyze European medieval society
with regard to culture, politics, society, and economics.
a. Explain the manorial system and feudalism; include the
status of peasants and feudal monarchies and the importance
of Charlemagne.
 600 & 700’s, Frankish kings lost their power to the chief
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officers of the king’s household = mayor’s of the palace
Pepin assumed the kingship
Pepin’s son became king after his death in 768 = son was
Charles the Great – Charlemagne
Charlemagne = one of history’s great kings/ curious, driven,
intelligent, strong warrior, devout Christian/ was illiterate,
but strongly supported learning
Ruled from 768 to 814/ Expanded the Frankish kingdom into
Carolingian empire = covered much of western & central
Europe
 Charlemagne established missi dominci (messengers of the
lord king) two men who were sent to make for sure the kings
wishes were followed
 800, he was crowned emperor of the Romans/ the coronation
symbolized the coming together of the Roman, Christian, &
Germanic elements that forged European civilization
 Carolingian Renaissance was promoted by Charlemagne
desire to promote learning
 Benedictine monks played important role in revival of
learning
 Charlemagne died in 814/ by 844 Carolingian empire divided
into 3 kingdoms by grandsons
 Muslims invaded southern France
 Magyars settled on the plains of Hungary
 Vikings were superb warriors & shipbuilders/ famed
dragon ships carrying about 50 men could go shallow
rivers to attack inland
 9th century, Vikings settled in Europe
 911, Frankish king gave Vikings land of Normandy
 Invaders posed a threat to the safety of the people due to
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decentralized government
People began to turn landed aristocrats or nobles for
protection/ led to feudalism
Feudalism arose between 800-900/ similar system in JapanSamurai
Vassalage = center of feudalism/ came from Germanic society
where warriors swore oath to their leader
Vassal = man who served a lord militarily
Feudalism: Military
Service for Land
 Knights = heavily armored warriors
 Male = armor made of metal links or plates
 Frankish army initially set up foot soldiers in mail
 Heavily armored knights dominated warfare for over 500
years
 Knights had great prestige & formed much of European
aristocracy
 Early Middle Ages (500-1000) wealth was based on owning
land/very little trade
 Nobles gave a piece of land to vassals in exchange for fighting
= fief
 Vassals had political authority in their fief/in charge of
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keeping order
Feudalism became complicated = kings had vassals who had
vassals
Feudal contract = unwritten rules that characterized
feudalism/relationship between king & vassal/knights for
about 40-60 days a year
Vassals were to advise the lord, financial obligations to the
lord, knighting of his eldest son,
Lord supported the vassal with land grant & protection in
military & court
Vassals:
Lords:
Military service for 4060 days.
Homage.
Serve on the lord’s
court.
Gifts for weddings and
knighthoods.
Ransom.
Protection.
Justice.
Wardship – oversee
personal affairs and
family if vassal dies in
service.
 Castles = permanent residences & fortresses/#’s increased in
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high middle ages(1000-1300)
Middle Ages = nobles dominated European society/ main
concern was warfare
Nobles = kings, dukes, counts, barons, bishops, archbishops
Knighthood = united lords & knights in aristocracy
Knights = trained as warriors/ no adult responsibility
Young knights held tournaments to show their skills/ joust
became main attraction
 11th & 12th century, under influence of Church- chivalry
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became important to knights
Chivalry = civilized behavior, knights were to defend the
church & defenseless people, treat captives as honored
guests, fight for glory not rewards
Women could own property, but were under control of men/
first their fathers, then their husbands
Lady of the castle in charge of household & estate
Eleanor of Aquitane = married to king Louis VII of France &
Henry II of England/ 2 children became kings of England