Feudalism

1. Definition: the economic and political system that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages Feudalism • Significance: • To protect themselves and their property from barbarians, Europeans developed feudalism • People were born into their social class and stayed there for life • The monarchs were richest and had the most power

2. Lord Definition: a ruler or powerful leader • Significance: • Great lords grew very powerful and ruled their fiefs like independent states • Lords job to manage and defend land • L appointed officials to make sure villagers fulfilled their duties • Only men were part of the feudal relationship between lord and vassal

3. Lord Definition: a ruler or powerful leader • some women held fiefs and inherited land and held same duties as men except fighting • Noblewomen raised families, oversaw their households – including the people who worked for them • Leisure- enjoyed hunting feasting, dancing, board games – women – embroidery – entertainment by musicians and jesters • Even the richest faced cold/dark houses, little privacy fleas & lice, bathed only once a week, disease

4. Knight Definition: an armored warrior • Significance: • Mounted soldiers – rode horses • Had some wealth to afford armor and horse • Took years of training to become a knight • Started as a page (7 years old) – learned to sing. dance, play music • became a squire- took care of knight’s armor, learned to fight, practiced battles

5. Knight Definition: an armored warrior • At 20 became a knight – a complex ceremony involving prayer and bathing (to show purity) • Participated in jousting tournaments • Armor was heavy & got better with time • knights lasted until 17th century – guns changed how they fought

6. Definition: in feudalism, a person who worked the land Peasant • Significance: • Lords rented land to peasants – free peasants • most people were peasants • Had to produce everything needed on the manor • Life revolved around raising crops and livestock • Others worked as carpenters, shoemakers blacksmiths

7. Peasant women also worked in fields when needed • Women also cared for children and their homes • Had to pay many taxes to their lord • Peasants lived in small, dark, smoky 1 or 2 room houses • Had little furniture or possessions • Ate vegetables, meat and bread • Preserved meat and fish with salt Peasant

8. Serf Definition: the bottom level of peasants who were not free to leave the lord’s land • Significance: • Had to farm the lord’s land in exchange for a small plot of land of their own • Could not leave the land • The poorest, very hard life

9. Clovis Definition: Became King of the Franks at age 15 in 481 C.E. • Significance: • Defeated the Roman Army in Gaul • ruled 30 years • Widened the boundaries of the Frankish kingdom • accepted Christianity - his wife was a Christian • Many of his followers became Christians

10. Charlemagne Definition: The most important leader of the Franks. Ruled as king from 768 – 814 C.E. • Significance: • Ruled for over 40 years – strong leader • Could not read or write – but had scholarly books read to him - Encouraged education • Unified almost all the Christian lands in Europe into a single empire • His empire quickly fell apart after his death

11. Definition: The Christian church headed by the pope in Rome Roman Catholic Church • Significance: • The churches blessing told Europeans that God is on Charlemagne’s side

12. Definition: a large estate, including farmland and villages, held by a lord Manor • Significance: • Most lords and kn. lived on manors • Included a castle or manor house, one or more villages, and the surrounding farmland • Manors were protected by walls and moats

13. Manor • Manor houses were surrounded by gardens and stables • M. house was the center of the community • Villagers came inside the manor house for protection • It was also the place for special celebrations • Kings & queens and high nobles had castles

14. Divine right of kings Definition: the belief that God gives monarchs the right to rule • Significance: • most monarchs in the middle ages believed this idea • This idea gave monarchs the backing of the church • which gave them even more power

15. hierarchy Definition: a system of organizing people into ranks, with those of higher rank having more power and privileges • Significance: • The large castles were strong visual reminders of the barriers between social classes • The 4 main ranks (classes) are Monarch, Nobles, Knights and Peasants

16. chivalry Definition: the medieval knights code of ideal behavior, including bravery, loyalty, and respect for women • Significance: • Knights were expected to be loyal to the church & their lord • They were expected to be fair, just, and show kindness to women

17. Barbarian Definition: a person belonging to a tribe or group that is considered uncivilized • Significance: • controlled areas outside the Roman Empire (Europe) • 3 main groups attacked Europe– Muslims, Magyars, Vikings • Vikings known for terrifying raids • Those who resisted were killed, others taken by Vikings

18. Christianity Definition: a religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ • Significance: • Christianity became the main religion of Europe • Oaths were also sworn to the church as well as the lords and monarchs

19. Pope Definition: the bishop of Rome and supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church • Significance: • Leo III helped Charlemagne build his empire • The churches blessing told Europeans God was on Charlemagne’s side

20. Definition: a ruler, such as a king or queen Monarch • Significance: • All land in the kingdom belonged to the monarch • Came from feudal lords • Many had to rely on their vassals to provide an army some monarchs had little • In England – monarchs became strong • William the Conqueror brought feudal systems from Europe to England

21. fief Definition: land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service • Significance: • Could be held by noble men and women • Lords got their land from kings in exchange for promising knights and soldiers in time of war.

22. Definition: a person of high rank by birth or title Noble • Significance: • Lords and vassals made up the noble rank • Officials were appointed from the noble class • Provided kings with knights and soldiers

23. Vassal Definition: a person who held land from a feudal lord and received protection in return for honor and allegiance • Significance: • Lords became the king’s vassals • Lesser nobles and knights became the lord’s vassals