Download Feudalism and Manorialism PPT

The social, political, and economic systems of
the middle ages.
The Middle Ages or Medieval Period
( 500 CE -1500 CE.)
Barbarian
Invasions
cause the
Fall of the
Western
Roman
Empire
Rise of
New
Kingdoms/
States
that are
not united
(Charlema
gne’s
empire
was shortlived)
New
Kingdoms
are unable
to protect
themselves
from
Barbarian
Invasions,
causing a
need for
localized
Protection
The
Rise of
Feudalism
in Europe
Vikings, Muslims and Magyars Invasion Map

Feudalism

 A political and social system of the middle ages
based upon relationships of mutual obligations.
 It was a system of extreme political decentralization
where public power was held and exercised in
private hands.
 This system was derived as a result of no strong
central government. (There were still kings they
were just weak!)
Feudalism Continued!

 This system was based upon the exchange of land for
protection.
 A grant of land was called a fief.
 The individual who granted the land is known as a
lord and the individual who receives the land is
known as a vassal.
Commendation
Ceremony
 Ceremony began with
the act of homage
(agreement to provide
military service in
return for land)
 This officially entered
the two parties in a
feudal relationship.
 This was followed by
an oath of fidelity.
The Feudal Pyramid

Feudalism continued

 Kings were lords
 Upper nobility and clergy could be lords and vassals
 Lesser nobility (knights) were vassals
Feudalism continued
 The reason Feudalism
worked is because
everyone benefited
from this system
 Fiefs were typically
broken up into large
farming estates known
as manors
 Typically a knight was
the lord of the
individual manor
Manorialism

 While Feudalism provided a political and social
system, Manorialism was the economic system of
this time.
 Economic System- the means of producing,
distributing, and consuming goods
 Manorialism—economic agricultural system by
which the lord of the manor relied upon the labor of
peasants who worked his estate or fief.
Manorialism Continued

Manorialism got its name from the manor or
large farming estates that fiefs were broken
into.
There was little to no trade during this time
because it was unsafe to leave one’s manor.
As a result people became self-sufficient.
Manorialism continued

 Everything that was needed was produced on one’s
manor.
 Food, clothing, and shelter were all produced on the
manner.
 The land on the manor was shared by a lord and
several peasant families.
Manorialism continued

The lord kept 1/3 of the land for himself
which was known as his domain.
The peasants/serfs farmed the remaining 2/3
of the land.
In return for being allowed to work the land
the peasants gave the lord some of their
crops, farmed his land, and also paid taxes.
The Composition of a
Manor

Manors were comprised of a manor house
(where the lord lived), cultivated lands,
woodlands (to hunt), pastures (for cattle),
fields, a village, a church, a priests house, a
mill (used to grind grains into flower, and an
oven.
Ideally were located along stream or river to
provide power for the mill.
Manorialism Continued
 They used an early
form of crop rotation on
manors.
 The manor was divided
into 3 fields. Only 2
were planted at a time
and the third lay fallow
to regain its fertiltiy.