Download Chapter 13 Section 2

Chapter 13
Section 2
Feudalism and the
Manorial System
Review
► Why
did Clovis and his Merovingians have
the support of the church?
► On Christmas Day of the year 800 what
did Pope Leo III declare Charlemagne?
► What were the schools that Charlemagne
established based on?
► What was the agreement where Lothair,
Charles the Bald, Louis the German
agreed to divide the empire amongst
themselves called?
Feudalism
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Within 100 years of Charlemagne's death organized
government was all but gone in Europe
By the 900’s most were governed by small local independent
leaders, most often local lords. The political facet these leaders
represented is known as feudalism
{Within the feudal system a powerful noble granted land called
a fief to a lesser noble called a vassal}
The vassal did not actually “own” the land but he would
maintain the land for him and his household. In return for the
fief, the vassal promised loyalty and military assistance to the
landowner.
The vassal could further divide the land and grant it to others if
he so chose to. Making him a lord
{The fief could be inherited by the vassal’s eldest son in a
system called primogeniture}
Of course, {the feudal system still gave most of the power to
the king}
structure of feudalism
Warfare and Feudal Justice
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Many wars were fought between lords and vassals. Sometimes
they would be small conflicts, but often the were large scale
battles that could be very destructive
Knights in the Middle Ages wore armor made of chain mail and
were heavily armed in battle
The armor was so heavy the knights sometimes had to be put
onto their horses with cranes
War had different effects on feudal society It was a time of
glory and wealth for nobles but a time of hardship and suffering
for most other people
Feudal justice differed from Roman justice
A feudal trial was decided in one of three ways: Trial by battle
(a duel), trial by oath (other people swore in court that the
person they represented was telling the truth) or trial by ordeal
in which the accused had to carry a hot piece of iron then
plunge his hand onto boiling water or he had to survive
extended submersion in icy water. If the wounds healed quickly
and well he was innocent. If not he was guilty.
Chain mail
Trial by Oath & Trial by Ordeal
The Manorial System
► {The
economic system in the Middle Ages was
Manorialism.} Manors were large estates that
included manor houses, farm land, woodlands,
pastures, fields and villages
► Generally a lord kept about 1/3 of the manor’s lands
called the domain. Peasants farmed the remaining 2/3
for themselves. {In exchange they worked the lords
lands, gave some of their crops to him} and paid
taxes.
► {Manorial
systems were very self-sufficient and
reduced the need for cities or towns} Manors
produced everything they needed from tools to food
and clothes
Peasant life in the Manorial System
► Peasant
life was hard because of long hours and
back-breaking work
► Most peasants-or serfs- could not leave the land
without the lords permission
► They also were not allowed to hunt on the lords
land and could rarely afford to buy meat. Giving
them a diet of bread, lentils and vegetables
► They had short lived lives due to disease,
starvation and frequent warfare.
► Peasants often lived, worked and died in the
village in which they had been born
Nobles Lifestyles in the Manorial
System
► The
upper classes of the Middle Ages did not live in
luxury or comfort by today’s standards
► Castles were simple structures made of earth and
wood. It was not until later they were made of stone
► Castles were usually built on hills that would prevent
easy attack. If it was built on flat land a moat would
be built around it for protection
► A lord depended on his wife and children for help.
Through marriage a man acquired more land. And
through children the man acquired free labor
Chivalry
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By the late 1100’s {a code of behavior for knights called
Chivalry} brought changes to feudal society.
{To become a knight a boy had to belong to the noble class}
and had to pass two stages of training
► The first stage began at the age of seven when the boy would
serve as a knight’s page where he would learn knightly
manners and how to care for and use weapons
► Then as a teenager the boy became a squire. The knight would
take the squire into battle when the knight thought he was
ready. If the boy proved himself to be skilled and courageous
he would be knighted
► Knights could be distinguished from one another by their coat
of arms- a graphic symbol that represented his personal
characteristics- that was stitched onto the knights shield, flag
and /or his horses trappings
► Coat of arms were passed down from one generation to the
next
Coat of Arms
Continued……
► According
to the code of chivalry knights were
required to be courageous in battle and to fight fairly.
If a knight used tricks and strategy to overcome their
opponent they were considered a coward. He was
required to treat his conquered foes with dignity
► A knight was expected to keep his word and be loyal
to his friends. To be courteous to women and the less
powerful
► Chivalry did much to improve the crude manners of
early feudal lords
Section Review
► Within
the feudal system a powerful noble granted
land called a ____ to a lesser noble
► The system where a fief could be inherited by the
vassal’s eldest son
► Who did the feudal system give most of the power
to?
► The economic system in the Middle Ages was
known as __________
► To become a knight a boy had to belong to what
social class?
► a code of behavior for knights called _______
The Knights who say Ni