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Feudalism and Medieval Households. The Three Categories of Society: Those Who Work: Peasants or Serfs Those Who Fight: Knights Those Who Pray: Clergy & Religious Feudalism: An Economic System a set of social relations based upon protection through service.
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Feudalism and Medieval Households • The Three Categories of Society: • Those Who Work: Peasants or Serfs • Those Who Fight: Knights • Those Who Pray: Clergy & Religious • Feudalism: An Economic System • a set of social relations based upon protection through service
Stabilizing Medieval Europe • New Economic order: • Feudalism • Manorialism • The Role of the Catholic Church • Regulating Marriage • Regulating Sexuality • Blessing Secular Rulers
Medieval Manor • Evolved from Latifundium and Need for Protection
Characteristics of Feudalism • Ancient slavery ends as a labor system • An economic system which does not require cash exchange or extensive markets • People bound together in terms of obligations and terms of service • loyalty, homage and fealty govern relationships between lord and vassal, peasant and lord
Patterns... • 25-50 peasant families support one knight • 90% of the population are peasants • Peasants owe 3 days/wk of service + fees to lord. Fees are required : to marry, to inherit • Knights owe 40 days/year service to lord to fight and must supply armaments, horses, etc.
Patterns, cont. • Farm output is about 10% of today’s midwestern farm. • Peasants (serfs, not slaves) are bound to land but have rights to the land • Manors are economic and military units, with fortifications for defense (a castle), may also be controlled by monastic order or church.
Catholic Church • Regulates Sexuality through confession: see handout on the “penitentials.” • Organizes marriage by enforcing rules of monogamy and exogamy