Ch  15,  Sec  2:    Feudalism  

Main  Ideas:  How  did  feudalism  start?  How  did  feudalism  work?  

What  was  life  like  in  Medieval  Europe?  

Post-­‐Charlemagne  Europe  

•  A.D.  1000  •  Kings  did  not  have  control  of  huge  countries  •  Nobles  had  the  power  of  small  areas  of  land  

•  Feudalism:  – Landowning  nobles  controlled  and  protected  the  people  in  return  for  services  and  loyalty.  

How  feudalism  works  

Power...  

Nobles  

•  Under  the  king  •  King  gave  them  power    

 to  control  small  plots  of  land  

•  Had  vassals  under  them  

•  Pledged  loyalty  to  the  king  •  Gave  the  king  troops  to  fight  wars  

Vassals/knights  

•  people  who  served  under  higher      ranking  nobles  

•  Protected  the  nobles  •  Ran/belonged  in      the  armies  •  Given  land  called      fiefs  for  their  service  •  Was  in  charge  of  smaller  plots  of  land  •  Fought  wars/protected  the  Nobles/King  

New  Technology  700  A.D.-­‐1200  A.D.  

•  Knights:  – Rode  horses  – Had  chain  mail  and  armor  – Used  swords  and  shields  – Used  a  lance  (spear)  

Peasants/serfs  

•  Poor  people  who  lived  on  the  knights’/nobles’  land  

•  Farmers  and  city  people  

•  Worked  on  the  lord’s  land  3  days  a  week  in  return  for  protec[on  from  the  knights  

•  Owned  by  whoever  owned  the  land  they  worked  on  

       Manors  

•  Plots  of  land  owned  by  the  lords  •  Ran  by  wives  when  the  men  went  to  war  •  Had  free  peasants  and  serfs  work  the  land  •  Serfs  –  Could  not  leave  the  land  –  Could  not  marry  without  permission  –  Could  not  own  property  –  Escaped  for  freedom  in  towns  or  bought  their  freedom  

New  Technology  in  Farming  

•  Iron  plows-­‐broke  up  the  soil  easier  •  Horse  collar-­‐put  on  horses  to  pull  the  plows  •  Both  inven[ons  allowed  for  more  food  to  be  planted/grown  

•  Rotated  crops  on  3  fields  keeping  soil  fer[le  

Code  of  Chivalry  

•  A  code  explaining  how  knights/nobles  should  act.  

•  Knights:  – Obey  their  nobles  – Be  brave/honest  – Fight  fair  – Respect  women  and  children  – Go  to  church  – Help  others  

How  did  people  live?  

•  Nobles:  –  Lived  in  castles  surrounded          by  farm  land  

•  Peasants:  –  Lived  in  wood  framed      co_ages  covered  in  clay  –  1-­‐2  rooms  –  Straw  roofs  – Worked  year  around  accept  for  Sundays  and  Catholic  feast  days  

Benefits  of  Feudalism  

•  More  food  was  grown/produced  •  Bridges  and  roads  were  fixed/created  •  Thieves  were  arrested  •  Law  and  order  was  restored  •  Trade  increased  •  Created  banks  •  Towns  grew  bigger  –  Venice,  Italy  –  Flanders,  Belgium  

People  Living  in  Ci[es  

•  Paid  taxes  to  nobles  •  Had  more  freedom  

 than  farmers  

•  Could  buy/sell  property  •  Did  not  have  to  serve  in  the  army  

•  Males  could  become  ci[zens  and  elect  gov’t  officials  

Rise  of  a  Middle  Class  

•  Towns  offered  people  the  chance  to  find  new  jobs  

•  Guilds-­‐business  groups  based  on  types  of  jobs  – Ex:    tanners,  carpenters,  bakers,  blacksmiths,  etc  – Set  prices  for  goods  – Decided  who  could  join      the  guilds  – Appren[ce-­‐journeyman,        master  

City  Life  

•  Very  crowded  •  Houses  were  2-­‐3            stories  tall  

•  Dirty,  smelly,  and  full  of  disease  

•  Could  not  use  the  river  for  drinking  water  •  Men  worked  in  guilds  

Women  in  the  City  

•  Worked  at  home  and  with  their  husbands  •  Could  take  over  their  husband’s  job  if  he  died  •  Could  have  their  own  jobs  to  make  extra  money  

Sources  

•  h_p://www.middle-­‐ages.org.uk/feudalism.htm    

•  World  History:  Journey  Across  Time  textbook  

•  Google  Images