European Feudalism in the Middle Ages

1. Mr. Hernandez European Feudalism in the Middle Ages

2. Centralized vs. Decentralized Governments • A centralized government is a government that has put all power and responsibility in the hands of one person. • This works best in a small nation • A decentralized government spreads the responsibility and power among more people. • This type of government works best in a large nation.

3. Class Systems • A class system is a way to divide people in society. • A social class is a large group within society having common economic, cultural, or political status.

4. Feudalism • The political, military, and social system in the Middle Ages, based on a trade-off between social classes • The higher classes traded land (fief) and in return, they were given protection, loyalty, and military support. • This system is very decentralized

5. Feudalism • This system came after the barbarians took over much of Europe after the Fall of Rome because Rome was too big for one ruler to lead. • Charlemagne was a king after the Fall, and he introduced a decentralized government because he realized Rome fell partly because there was too much land for one person to control. • After Charlemagne was defeated Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims, Europe became totally decentralized and the system of feudalism was created.

7. Roles of Classes in Feudalism • Monarch • This person is the ruler and owner of a large kingdom. • This person is usually a man and needed help to protect their kingdom • This person rules through the “divine right” where they believe God gave them the right to rule • Lords • This person owns a large area of land that was given to him from the king (fief) in return for protection • This person would help supply an army to the king when needed. • These people were able to make the rules on their land

8. Role of Classes in Feudalism • Lesser Lords/Vassals • These people were given land (fiefs) from lords and in return, they had to supply knights and protection to the lords • Knights • These people provided security and protection for a lord or king • They wore full suits of armor and had to go through stages of being a page and squire. • This person also had to follow a code of behavior called chivalry which made them just, fair, protect the helpless, and respect women

9. Roles of Classes in Feudalism • Peasants • These people might have owned or rented land • These people worked as a farmer or in a special job like blacksmith, shoemaker, or carpenter • Women in this group mainly cared for their children and homes • Serfs • These people were “bound to the land” and could not leave (like slaves) • These people had to farm all day and work very hard. • These people paid high taxes to lords.

10. Roles of Men and Women in Feudalism • Men mainly worked on the land or worked in a trade as a carpenter, blacksmith, or shoemaker • Women mainly stayed at home to care for the home and children. Some peasant women were able to farm, but only if their labor was much needed.

11. Mr. Hernandez European Feudalism in the Middle Ages

12. Centralized vs. Decentralized Governments • A centralized government is a government that has puts ____ power and _____________ in the hands of one person. • This works best in a _______ nation • A decentralized government _______ the responsibility and power among ______ people. • This type of government works best in a ________nation.

13. Class Systems • A class system is a way to _______ people in society. • A social class is a large _______ within society having ________ economic, cultural, or political status.

14. Feudalism • The political, military, and social system in the Middle Ages, based on a ________ between social classes • The higher classes traded ______ (fief) and in return, they were given ________, ________, and __________. • This system is very decentralized

15. Feudalism • This system came after the ________ took over much of Europe after the _____________ because Rome was too big for _____ ruler to lead. • ____________ was a king after the Fall, and he introduced a _______________________ because he realized _______ fell partly because there was too much land for ______ person to control. • After Charlemagne was defeated by the __________, _________, _________ Europe became totally ____________ and the system of ____________ was created.

16. Roles of Classes in Feudalism • Monarch • This person is the ______ and owner of a large _________. • This person is usually a _____ and needed help to _______their kingdom • This person rules through the “______________” where they believe _____ gave them the right to rule • Lords • This person owns a __________ area of land that was given to him from the king (_______) in return for _________. • This person would help supply an _______ to the king when needed. • These people were able to make the _________ on their land

17. Role of Classes in Feudalism • Lesser Lords/Vassals • These people were given _______ (fiefs) from lords and in return, they had to supply _________ and protection to the lords • Knights • These people provided _________ and ________ for a lord or king • They wore full suits of _______ and had to go through ___________ of being a page and squire. • This person also had to follow a ____________ called _________ which made them just, fair, protect the helpless, and respect women

18. Roles of Classes in Feudalism • Peasants • These people might have _________ or ________ land • These people worked as a _________ or in a ________ job like blacksmith, shoemaker, or carpenter • _______ in this group mainly cared for their children and homes • Serfs • These people were “_________________” and could not leave (like __________) • These people had to ________ all day and work very hard. • These people paid high ___________ to lords.

19. Roles of Men and Women in Feudalism • ________mainly worked on the land or worked in a ________ as a carpenter, blacksmith, or shoemaker • _________mainly stayed at home to care for the ___________. Some peasant women were able to _______, but only if their labor was much needed.