The High Middle Ages

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The High Middle Ages

William the Conqueror

& the Introduction of Feudalism

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OBJECTIVES

Our lesson today is designed to look at the social structure of England in

the High Middle Ages and determine what impact the feudal

system had on the people of different social classes.

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Topics of Discussion What was life like in the HMA?

How was society structured?

The Feudal Contract Building social contracts

Constructing the Feudal Pyramid of Power

Relationship Between the Social Classes

Why was it necessary?

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Getting Started So what was life like in England in the High

Middle Ages?

Based on your reading of the story yesterday after the test, come up with 3 – 5 predictions about what life was like back then Questions to think about:

Type of government? People’s rights? People’s jobs?

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Contracts

What are contracts and why do we have them?

What are some examples of contracts?

What types of contracts might people use back in the HMA? What purpose would they serve?

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The Feudal Contract

Read pages 45 & 46

Answer questions #1 and 2c

When you are finished we will discuss these!

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Feudalism is…

Fealty Must be loyal (follow rules and pay

taxes/tithes) Feif

Own or work on a piece of land Faith

Must go to church

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SO WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY?

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Because…

Feudalism originated partly as result of Viking, Magyar, Muslim invasions

Kings unable to defend their lands, lands of their nobles

Nobles had to find way to defend own lands

Built castles, often on hills Not elaborate structures; built of wood,

used as place of shelter in case of attack

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And also because…

Back then, people were divided into a variety of social classes/groups

How might they have been grouped? What did they base these

groupings on?

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CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OR POWER

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CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER

SERFS AND FREEMEN

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LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

SERFS AND FREEMEN

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LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

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LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

KING

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LANDLOYALTY ANDSERVICE

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

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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

Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord

All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

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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 where the noble’s property.)

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Feudal Contract

LORDS

VASSALS

GIVEPROTECTION TO

GIVE SERVICE TO

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The Impact of Feudalism

Read page 47 Answer questions # 3a and 3b

We will discuss these before doing a short review practice quiz

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REVIEW

1) Everyone owed loyalty to the ________

2) _______ were really the most powerful. They got _______ from the king.

3) Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________ _________ 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.

Let’s see how much you remember!

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Check Your Answers1) Everyone owed loyalty to the king.2) Nobles were really the most powerful.

They got land from the king.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 nobles and were free to move if they wanted to.

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Making Connections

Comparing the Oath of Allegiance and the Canadian Oath of Citizenship How are these similar? How are these different?

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THE ENDH

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NO

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Documents

The High Middle Ages