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Feudalism and the Feudal Pyramid

Feudalism and the Feudal Pyramid. The foundation of Middle Ages society. Feudal Pyramid. European society resembled a chess game Kings/Queens were powerful, but not always the most powerful Bishops/Nobles tried to lessen royal authority Lesser nobles served as knights Most people were poor

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Feudalism and the Feudal Pyramid

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  1. Feudalism and the Feudal Pyramid The foundation of Middle Ages society

  2. Feudal Pyramid • European society resembled a chess game • Kings/Queens were powerful, but not always the most powerful • Bishops/Nobles tried to lessen royal authority • Lesser nobles served as knights • Most people were poor • Poor were known as serfs: like slaves as they are bound to the land they work (pawns in a chess game)

  3. Continued… • Royalty needed military to be strong • Landowners were often as powerful as royalty due to land assets • Landowners offered protection to others • In return, poorer served as Vassals (Lesser Lords) to the Lord • This became known as “Lord/Vassal Relationship” or “Feudalism”

  4. Feudal Pyramid

  5. The Medieval Manor • Manor: Lord’s estate • What did the Manor consist of? • 1,000 or more acres of land • Castle • Church • Peasant huts • Equipment for food making (ovens, wine presses) • Forests and farmable land

  6. The Medieval Manor

  7. Farming and Daily Life at a Manor • Feudalism was based on farming – simple tools and not efficient • People at this time did not know about crop rotation (planting different crops to replenish minerals) • Instead, they fallowed the land • Fallow: untilled/unfarmed land to restore fertility • Demesne: best farming land on the manor

  8. Continued… • Most serfs lived in a single thatched roof cottage – heat came from a center fireplace (cottage fires were common) • Both serf men and women worked hard –men = fields, women = household duties • Money was scarce due to little trade

  9. Castle Life • Castle was on the highest ground to protect from enemy • Surrounded by a moat: protective water around a castle • Great Hall: living quarters of the lord and his family • Keep: most secure/safest place in castle…where lord/family would go in case of/during an attack • Dungeon: place where prisoners were kept – were dark, dirty, and jail-like • Castles were made of stone – they were cold and were lit by candle light as there were not many windows

  10. Manor Life • Lord did administrative work • Steward: Lord’s chief advisor • Reeve: spokesperson for the lord and overseer of serfs • Constable: called meetings for the lord and enforced laws • Lord’s Wife: overseer of artisans and took lord’s power if he was away at battle • Serfs: Did the labor work at the manor

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