FeudalismMr. Garfinkel 1/29/14

Background• In the middle ages (approximately 5th - 15th c.),

Feudalism emerged out of the lack of a strong central authorityo Think Western Europe after the fall of Romeo Reasons why empires collapseo Again, this system was not a rule, but a way historians can

think about power at this time.

• In order to control territory, power was given to local elites called nobles or lords in Europe or daimyo in Japan

Map of France in 1477

Map of Japan, 1564-1673

Roles and definitionsLords: powerful landholders who granted land and protection to a vassal in

exchange for labor, military service, or some sort of payment (goods or services)

Serf: A worker (or peasant) who is bound to the land where they live and required to give goods or services to the lord to owned the land. They were generally not allowed to leave that land without permission.

Fief: A piece of property granted to a vassal in return for something (could be money, goods or services)

Manor: A self-contained “village” within a fief

Pyramid of feudal power in Europe (9th-15th centuries)

http://duffystirling.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/feudal-pyramid-of-power.png

Pyramid of feudal power in Japan (12th-19th centuries)

(From the textbook, page 361)

A feudal manor (textbook pg. 362)

Example of a feudal castle

French, originally built in the 11th century

Homework:• Read pages 358-363• Write a journal entry taking the role of

someone in the feudal system (a king, clergy member, peasant, knight)o At least 2 paragraphs please.