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Chapter 24 Feudal Society. Section 1 Land and Government: Origins of Feudalism Section 2 The Nobility: Hierarchy of Feudal Society Section 3 Knighthood: Duties of Feudal Knights Section 4: The Manor: Lifestyles of the People and Organization of the Manors. R E G I O N S.
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Chapter 24 Feudal Society Section 1 Land and Government: Origins of Feudalism Section 2 The Nobility: Hierarchy of Feudal Society Section 3 Knighthood: Duties of Feudal Knights Section 4: The Manor: Lifestyles of the People and Organization of the Manors
Introduction: Early Medieval Europe BackgroundThe Middle Ages were a dark age for Europe. Near constant invasions and scant resources required that Europeans develop a new system for living. This system included all aspects of life, social, political, and economic. It was called Feudalism. • During this period, Christianity continues to spread; the political power of the pope and Church increases, and the clergy, or social group of religious leaders, become part of noble and manor life.
Europe in the 6th Century: A hodgepodge of Kingdoms with constant wars and rebellions
Greatest Early Medieval King: Charlemagne- 742 to 814 • Germanic people call the Franks began to control all of Western Europe. • By 800 A.D. Charlemagne controlled most of Western and Southern Europe. • In 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. • Spread Christianity and forced its acceptance. • Set up schools and churches • Establishes basic principles for Feudalism with Lords, or nobles, powerful in his empire. • Central Government in Europe collapsed after death of King Charlemagne in 1814.
The Age of Charlemagne • Although the pope, proclaimed him “Emperor of the Romans” reviving the idea of a unified Christian world, it widened the split between Eastern and Western Christianity.
During the middle ages two distinct Christian churches emerged • Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox
Charlemagne’s Empire • After Charlemagne's death, his son is a weak ruler and eventually divides his empire among his three sons. • The empire is divided into three kingdoms ruled by three brothers, Charles, Lothair, and Louis. • This weak rule allows Europe to return to smaller territories.
Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.
Section 1 Land and Government • Power based on ownership of land • Before feudalism, kings owned all the land • Frankish leader, Charles Martel, began giving soldiers fiefs, or estates, as a reward for loyalty and service • After 800 A.D., European kings began to follow his example • Land ownership now was tied to military service and the power and wealth soldiers needed to rule
The Rise of Feudal Territories • Weak kings often became dependent on nobles for food, soldiers and horses. • Around 900 A.D. nobles began to protect their lands and peasants promised to work for the noble and give up land claims in exchange for protection and freedom. • By 1000 A.D. Western Europe was divided into thousands of feudal territories about the size of Greek city-states. • Nobles made and enforced laws with no input from people who lived within his fief.
Lord and Vassal • Feudalism based on loyalty and duty among nobles. • A vassal was a noble who served a lord of higher rank and gave him loyalty. • In return, noble protected the vassal; all nobles were ultimately vassals of a king, who might be a vassal of another king. • Most important duty was to provide military service to their lord.
Lord and Vassal • Official ceremonies called the act of homage, tied the lord and vassal together. • In return for a promise of loyalty and service, the lord gave his vassal a fief, an estate in which the vassal governed all who lived there. • A higher Lord was required to protect his vassals; if he did not, the vassal could leave his service.
Duties of vassals • Help the lord in battle by bringing his knights, warriors on horseback, and serving 40-60 days a year. • Make food or monetary payments to their lord. • When a lord’s daughter married or son became a knight, the vassal provided his lord money. • If lord is captured in battle, his vassals had to pay the ransom (sum of money to pay for his release) or take his place in prison. • Vassals had to attend the lord’s court and provide food and entertainment when he visited him. • Vassals would lose their fief if they did not do their duty. • When Vassal died, the oldest son received his father’s estate and performed an act of homage.
Comparison of Feudalism in Europe and Japan Both practices developed in response to the need for security and stability. Everyone had well-defined social roles. Helped preserve law and order.
Section 2: The Nobility • From 800s to 1000s, nobles and their families lived in wooden houses surrounded by a wooden fence called a palisade. • When under attack, local population would seek protection behind the palisade. • Most were one room buildings was used for all occasions such as meetings, sleeping, and eating. • Heat for cooking and warmth provided by one fire in the center of the room.
The Castle • By 1100s, nobles were living in stone houses called castles. • Designed as fortresses for protection. Some made with moats, draw bridge, and iron gates. • Had a keep, or tall tower with thick walls, in the center as a final defense. It contained the lord’s living quarters, rooms, great hall, and dungeon. • Living areas for soldiers, guests, and storage of food, drink, weapons, and horses were inside the castle and could be defended for up to 6 months.
Carcassonne: A Medieval Castle Most Castles were not as ornate as this one.
Keep Moat Draw Bridge Outer defensive wall
Castle Life • When at home, nobles looked after their estates, hunted, fished, held court, and entertained. • Noblewomen were called ladies. • Once married, husbands had complete control over their wives. Most marriages were arranged by their fathers to unite important families. • Most women were married as early as 12 years old. If not married by 21, chances were they would never marry.
Castle Life • Wives helped their husbands run the estates. • Main duties were to have and raise children and to take care of the household. • Expected to train other girls from other castles in household duties and supervise the making of cloth and fine embroidery. • Also used her knowledge of herbs and plants to care for the poor and sick on her husbands fief.
Section 3: The KnighthoodChivalry:A Code of Conduct for Honor and Behavior • Most nobles were also knights. • Had to follow rules called the code of Chivalry: • Obey his lord • Show bravery • Respect women of noble birth • Honor the Church • Help people • Be honest and fight fairly • Code became the guide to western ideas of good manners
The Road to Knighthood (You have to know this chart.) • KNIGHTRewarded when a squire fought well. In a ceremony called a dubbing he promised to serve his lord. • SQUIREAge 15- trained under a knight: • Go into battle with his knight. Had to fight well. • Expected to rescue his knight if wounded or fell from his horse. • PAGE(person who helped knights care for destriers, or war-horses) • Sent to another noble family at age 7 • Polished knights armor • Learned good manners and ran errands for the ladies • Learned to ride and fight; by 14 could handle a sword and lance on horseback
Tournaments • Knights trained for war by participating in tournaments, or special contests that tested strength, skill, and endurance. • Most popular event was the joust, where two men on horses charged each other. • Men and horses were often killed or severely wounded. • Noble who gave the event had to feed hundreds of people.
Section 4: The Manor • Land was divided into manors which were self sufficient; all economic activity occurred on the manor, resulting in little to no trade during this time period. • Most peasants were serfs. Serfs were given land to farm in exchange for service. Service included working fields, maintaining roads, or other service to the manor. Not usually forced into military service. They and their descendants were the property of the noble for life.Could not marry or own property without permission. • Freeman were the other class of peasants. They paid nobles for the right to farm their land. They worked their own strips of land, could move when they wished, could serve in the military, and had rights under the law. They could be thrown off the land without warning.
The Manor • Officials chosen to help run the manor. • Seneschal was an official who visited all the fiefs to make sure they were run properly. • Bailiffs made sure the peasants worked hard in the fields. • Each manor had its court of law to settle differences, hand out fines and punishments, and discussed manor business. • Serfs had to work 3 days a week on their lords land and had to pay to use the village mill, bread oven, and wine press. • Fleas were a common cause of disease.
The Medieval Manor • Manors were often separated by poor transportation, war, or disease. • Village green was surrounded by one room cottages. • Church located on manor’s land.
Conclusion • By the 1200s, serfs learned better farming techniques. • They used a 3 field system so one field was always left without crops so soil would not be burned out of necessary minerals. • Heavy iron plows and the horse collar was invented to increase food production. • By the end of the Middle Ages, serfdom began to end as more serfs went to the cities and gained their freedom.
