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Medieval Social Structure

Medieval Social Structure. Now and Then. What are the various social classes? Lower, middle, upper class What were they then? Royalty, nobility, knights, villains. Now and Then. What determines which class a person belongs to now? Occupation Wealth

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Medieval Social Structure

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  1. Medieval Social Structure

  2. Now and Then • What are the various social classes? • Lower, middle, upper class • What were they then? • Royalty, nobility, knights, villains

  3. Now and Then • What determines which class a person belongs to now? • Occupation Wealth • What determines which class a person belongs to then? • Birth occupation

  4. Now and Then • Can people change classes now? • Yes, increase or loss of wealth • Could people change classes then? • Difficult, largely determined by birth

  5. The Road to Knighthood KNIGHT SQUIRE PAGE

  6. The Medieval Manor

  7. Feudalism Think of a chess set

  8. FeudalismManors • The lords estate – • The lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland and protection • Serfs tended the lands, cared for the animals, maintained the estate

  9. FeudalismManors • Peasants rarely traveled more than 25 miles from the manor • Was home to 15 – 30 families • Self-Sufficient community • Peasants heavily taxed, including a tithe – a church tax of 1/10 their income

  10. The Age of Chivalry • The mounted Knights were the most important part of an Army • Professional solders – main obligation was to serve in battle • Rewarded with land • Devoted lives to war

  11. The Age of Chivalry • Chivalry – a complex set of ideals, demanded that a knight fight bravely in defense of three masters • His feudal lord • His Heavenly Lord • His Lady • Meant to protect the weak and the poor • Be loyal, brave, and courteous

  12. The Age of Chivalry • Sons of nobles began training at an early age for knighthood • Page – at 7 they were sent to another lord to be trained • Squire – at 14 they act as a servant to a knight • Knight- at 21 they become a knight and gain experience in local wars and tournaments

  13. The Age of Chivalry Tournaments – mock battles that combined recreation and combat training Fierce and bloody competitions

  14. Castles and Keeps • Stone castles were encircled by massive walls and guard towers • Home to lord and lady, their family, knights solders, and servants • A fortress of defense

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