Download THE STRUCTURE OF FEUDALISM

FEUDALISM AND
THE MIDDLE AGES
FEUDALism
Feudalism is the political and social
system of the Middle Ages. A lord
granted a vassal land in exchange for
loyalty, military assistance and other
services.
THE STRUCTURE OF
FEUDALISM
KING & QUEEN
CHURCH OFFICIALS &
LORDS
KNIGHTS
VASSALS
PEASANTS(SERFS)
PEASANTS (SERFS)
LORDS
PEASANTS
NOBLES AND LAND
• A powerful lord
could grant land
to a vassal. The
contract between
lord and vassal
was called a
FIEF.
LORDS ,VASSALS,& KNIGHTS
Lords would grant land to vassals who
would give their loyalty and protection to
the lord in return.
Vassals are subject to the will of their Lord.
Vassals could grant land to knights creating
a contract with them, and becoming lords
themselves.
WARFARE
WARS were destructive to peasants
and opportunities for the nobles.
Wars usually broke out because of
disputes between lords and vassals.
THE MANORIAL SYSTEM
• MANORIALISM :
Economic system of
medieval Europe where
life was built around the
lord’s manor.
MANORS
Manors were large farming
estates that included manor
houses, cultivated lands,
woodlands, pastures, fields,
and villages.
PEASANTS ON THE
MANOR
Peasants lives were
difficult during the
middle ages. They
spent long hours
working in the
fields.
THE LIFESTYLES OF THE
RICH AND NOBLE
• A lord would rule over
his vassals and peasants
from his castle.
Castle’s were not
luxurious structures but
were built as
fortifications for
protection from
invasion.
KNIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE
AGES
• To become a
knight, a boy
would have to
be of noble birth
and complete
two stages of
training.
CHIVALRY
Chivalry was a system of rules that
dictated a knights behavior. The
code of chivalry did much to
improve the rough crude manners
of early feudal lords.