Feudalism & the Manor Economy

Feudalism & Feudalism & the Manor Economythe Manor Economy

Problems in EuropeProblems in Europe•The destruction of The destruction of

Charlemagne’s empire led to Charlemagne’s empire led to WIDESPREAD CHAOSWIDESPREAD CHAOS in in Western EuropeWestern Europe

Problems in EuropeProblems in Europe•Political turmoil, Political turmoil,

economic economic declinedecline, enemy , enemy invasions & invasions & constant constant warfarewarfare

•Central authorityCentral authority proved proved powerlesspowerless in terms of in terms of protection from the protection from the CHAOSCHAOS

•So who did Europeans look So who did Europeans look to for to for protectionprotection??

•LandownersLandowners (aka (aka LORDSLORDS))

Problems in EuropeProblems in Europe

Emergence of FeudalismEmergence of Feudalism•Led to a new system of Led to a new system of

governinggoverning & & landholdinglandholding•Feudalism:Feudalism: •Political, Political, economiceconomic & & socialsocial

system based on system based on mutual mutual obligationsobligations between lords & between lords & vassals vassals

STATUSSTATUS OBLIGATIONOBLIGATION

LordLord Protection & land for his Protection & land for his vassals vassals

VassalVassalLoyalty to his lord Loyalty to his lord (military service, (military service,

payments & advice) in payments & advice) in exchange for a fiefexchange for a fief

Knight Knight Loyalty to his lord & Loyalty to his lord & defense of his lord’s defense of his lord’s

land in exchange for a land in exchange for a fieffief

Anatomy of a Anatomy of a CastleCastle

Anatomy of a CastleAnatomy of a Castle

•Due to the Due to the lack of a strong lack of a strong central authoritycentral authority, warfare , warfare was was VERY commonVERY common during during the Middle Agesthe Middle Ages

•Why were castles needed?Why were castles needed?

•Medieval Medieval castles were castles were designed designed in in response to response to the the weapons weapons they had to they had to withstandwithstand

Anatomy of a CastleAnatomy of a Castle

Anatomy of a CastleAnatomy of a Castle•Common FeaturesCommon Features::•StoneStone, thick walls, , thick walls, rounded rounded

towers towers, , reinforced reinforced doors, doors, moat moat & & keepkeep

The World of The World of NoblesNobles

The World of NoblesThe World of Nobles•WarfareWarfare was a way of life was a way of life •Constant battle for powerConstant battle for power•From boyhood many nobles From boyhood many nobles

were trained to become were trained to become knightsknights

KnighthoodKnighthood•Age 7 (PAGE):Age 7 (PAGE):

–Sent to the castle of Sent to the castle of a lorda lord

–Trained in Trained in weaponryweaponry, , ridingriding & & fightingfighting

KnighthoodKnighthood•Age 14 (SQUIRE):Age 14 (SQUIRE):

–Became a Became a knight’s knight’s servant servant

•Age 21 (KNIGHT):Age 21 (KNIGHT):–Full-fledged Full-fledged knighthoodknighthood

KnighthoodKnighthood•Tournaments:Tournaments:•Mock battlesMock battles characterized characterized

by by fierce competitionfierce competition•Winners usually demanded Winners usually demanded

a a ransomransom from from defeated defeated knightsknights

KnighthoodKnighthood•WarfareWarfare::•Large-scale battleLarge-scale battle•Generally Generally fought by castlesfought by castles•Boiling water, hot oil, molten Boiling water, hot oil, molten

lead & crossbows served to lead & crossbows served to deter enemy soldiersdeter enemy soldiers

NoblewomenNoblewomen•Active roleActive role in noble society in noble society•Lady of the Manor:Lady of the Manor:•While husband was at war, While husband was at war,

women women supervised vassalssupervised vassals, , managed the householdmanaged the household & & performed agricultural tasksperformed agricultural tasks

A Code of A Code of ConductConduct

A Code of ConductA Code of Conduct•ChivalryChivalry::•A A code of conductcode of conduct followed followed

by by knightsknights•Required knights to be Required knights to be

bravebrave, , loyal loyal & & true to their true to their wordword

A Code of ConductA Code of Conduct•Fight fairlyFight fairly•Treat Treat enemy enemy

capturescaptures well well & with respect & with respect

•Protect & Protect & cherish womencherish women

A Code of ConductA Code of Conduct•TroubadoursTroubadours adopted adopted

this this view of womenview of women

•Performed Performed love songslove songs that that praised the praised the perfection, perfection, beauty & beauty & wit of women wit of women

Manorialism Manorialism

The Medieval ManorThe Medieval Manor•Manor:Manor:•The lord’s The lord’s

estateestate•Manorialism:Manorialism: •The The economic sideeconomic side of of

feudalismfeudalism

The Medieval ManorThe Medieval Manor•Manors Manors varied in sizevaried in size & &

included the included the lord’s houselord’s house, , pastures, pastures, fieldsfields, forested , forested areas, a church, & a village areas, a church, & a village where where peasantspeasants lived lived

•SELF-SUFFICIENTSELF-SUFFICIENT

The Medieval ManorThe Medieval Manor•Peasants comprised a Peasants comprised a

majority of the populationmajority of the population•Most peasants were Most peasants were serfsserfs•SerfsSerfs: : •PeasantPeasant who is bound to who is bound to

the landthe land