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)

REVIEW

1. All members of society owed loyalty to the ______
2. ____________ received land from the king or lords in exchange for loyalty.
3. Lesser nobles (knights) provided _________ _________ in return for land
4. _______ were bound to the land. They worked in return for ____________.
5. __________ 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!

Check Your Answers

1. All members of society owed loyalty to the king.
2. Vassals received land from the king or lords in exchange for loyalty.
3. Lesser nobles (knights) gave military service in return for land.
4. Serfs were bound to the land. They worked in return for protection.
5. 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