You Decide…

1. You Decide… Feudalism: Good or Bad?

2. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Feudalism was the major social and political order in medieval Europe. • It developed as power passed from Kings to local Lords.

3. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Feudalism brought together two powerful groups: Lords and Vassals.

4. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • The Lords gave Vassals land in return for military and other services. • Feudalism was a help to Western Europeans for the following reasons:

5. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Good?: • Feudalism helped protect communities from the violence and warfare that broke out after the fall of Rome’s strong government. • Feudalism helped restore trade. • Lords repaired bridges and roads. • Their Knights arrested bandits, enforced the law and made it safe to travel on the roads.

6. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Feudalism benefited Lords, Vassals and peasants. • Lords gained a dependable fighting force in their vassals. • Vassals received land for their military service. • Peasants were protected by their lords. • The lord also built mills to grind grain and blacksmiths shops for metal working.

7. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Feudal ceremonies, oaths and contracts required lords and vassals to be faithful and carry out their duties to each other. • Feudalism did not allow one person or organization to become too powerful. • Power was shared among many people and groups. • This was the first step towards European ideas about limited government, constitutions and civil rights.

8. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Bad?: • Feudalism did not always work well in real life as it did in theory and caused many problems in society. • Feudalism provided some unity and security in local areas, but often did not have the strength to unit large regions and countries. • Small feudal governments could not afford big projects, such as building aqueducts, sewers or fleets of ships that might benefit society.

9. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Because there was no central government to enforce laws fairly, it was easy to use force, violence and lies to get your way. • This led to many wars among lords. • Feudalism protected western Europe from invaders but it did not bring peace to Europe. • Lords and vassals often placed personal interest over the areas they ruled.

10. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • Feudal lords had complete power over their areas and could make harsh demands on their vassals and peasants. • Feudalism did not treat people equally or let them move up in society. • Most peasants were serfs and were not allowed to leave their lords lands. • Serfs were restricted in movement and even daily activities because they could not leave the land without permission.

11. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • You Be the Historian: • 1) Do you think Feudalism helped or hurt Western Europe’s development? Why? • 2) Is there any way that feudal lords could have worked their lands without serfs?

12. Feudalism: Good or Bad? • You Be the Historian: • Imagine what your life would have been if you were born into a Feudal society. Write at least three brief diary entries. Describe your daily life as a lord, vassal or serf and your relationship with the other two groups. These entries should show Feudalism as either good or bad.