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Feudalism--What is it?

This station provides information on the feudal system and

the importance of the

relationship between

lords and vassals during the

Middle Ages

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Topics of Discussion

  • Why was feudalism necessary?
  • Relationship Between Lords and Vassals
  • What is a Knight?
  • Workers on the Manor
  • The Feudal Contract
  • Feudal Pyramid of Power (KNOW THIS!)

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WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY?

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Relationship Between Lords and Vassals

  • The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system during the Middle Ages
  • Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord and the lord provided certain things to the vassals in exchange
  • All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king even though they had vassals beneath them as well

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What is a Knight?

  • Most nobles were knights
  • Training began at age 7, as a page
  • Became squires at age 15 and were trained by other knights
  • Those deemed worthy were “dubbed” knights

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Workers on the Manor

  • There were two groups of peasant workers on the manor
  • Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.)
  • Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they were basically the noble’s property.)

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The Pyramid of Power�“I’ll give you ____ if you give me ____”

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VASSALS

(Lesser Nobles like Knights)

LABOR

PROTECTION

KING

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND AND

PROTECTION

LAND

LOYALTY AND

SERVICE

LOYALTY AND

MILITARY SERVICE

LORDS

(Powerful Nobles)

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REVIEW

  • All members of society owed loyalty to the ______
  • ____________ received land from the king or lords in exchange for loyalty.
  • Lesser nobles (knights) provided _________ _________ in return for land
  • _______ were bound to the land. They worked in return for ____________.
  • __________ were skilled workers. They paid rent to the ______ and were free to move if they wanted to.

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Let’s see how much you remember!

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Check Your Answers

  • All members of society owed loyalty to the king.
  • Vassals received land from the king or lords in exchange for loyalty.
  • Lesser nobles (knights) gave military service in return for land.
  • Serfs were bound to the land. They worked in return for protection.
  • Freemen were skilled workers. They paid rent to the vassals and were free to move if they wanted to.

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THE END

HISTORY

NOTES