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Feudalism and Manorialism. The social, political, and economic systems of the middle ages. The Middle Ages or Medieval Period ( 500 CE -1500 CE.). New Kingdoms are unable to protect themselves from Barbarian Invasions- a need for localized protection. Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
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Feudalism and Manorialism The social, political, and economic systems of the middle ages.
The Middle Ages or Medieval Period ( 500 CE -1500 CE.) New Kingdoms are unable to protect themselves from Barbarian Invasions- a need for localized protection Fall of the Western Roman Empire Rise of New Kingdoms/States that are not united The Rise of Feudalism in Europe
Feudalism • A political and social system where lords and serfs had specific responsibilities. • This system existed because of no strong central government. (There were still kings– they were just weak!)
Feudalism • Lord- a ruler or wealthy person (you lead) • Serf- a peasant (you follow) • Vassal- a knight (you protect)
Feudalism Continued! • The serf would give the lord their land in exchange for protection. • The lord would give the land to a vassal to protect the serfs • A grant of land was called a fief.
Commendation Ceremony • The act of homage • Bareheaded • Weaponless • Kneeling • Hands clasped • The oath of fidelity
Feudalism continued • Lords make promises to each other called treaties • Some of these treaties come from marriage • As more lords join together, some are more important than others (barons, earls, kings, etc)
Feudalism continued • Kings were especially wealthy lords • Upper nobility and clergy could be lords and vassals • Lesser nobility (knights) were vassals • Everyone else is a serf
Feudalism continued • Everyone benefits! • Fiefs were separated into large farms known as manors • Typically a knight was the lord of the manor
Manorialism • Manorialism- the economic system of feudalism • Economic system- the means of producing, distributing, and consuming goods • The lord of the manor relies on his serfs to provide labor and goods for the manor
Manorialism Continued • Manorialism got its name from the large farms that fiefs were broken into (aka manors). • There was very little trade during this time because it was unsafe to leave one’s manor. • Since you can’t trade, you make or grow everything you need
Manorialism continued • Everything that was needed was produced on one’s manor. • Food, clothing, and shelter were all produced on the manor. • The land on the manor was shared by a lord and several peasant families.
Manorialism continued • The lord kept 1/3 of the land for himself which was known as his domain. • The peasants/serfs farmed the remaining 2/3 of the land. • In return for being allowed to work the land the peasants gave the lord some of their crops, farmed his land, and also paid taxes.
The Parts of a Manor • A manor house (where the lord lived) • Farming lands • Woodlands (to hunt) • Pastures (for cattle) • A village • A church • A home for the priests • A mill (used to grind grains into flour) • An oven.
Manorialism Continued • Fields become unproductive without fertilizer (Nile, Yellow, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers provided new soil, but not in Europe) • The solution: crop rotation • 3 fields in each manor, only plant 2. • 1 lays fallow (without crops)
Manorialism • Everything is produced in the manor • If you don’t grow it or make it, it isn’t there • Eventually the manors become towns (Paris, London, etc) • As the towns get larger, jobs become specialized (bakers, shoemakers, blacksmiths)