Life in Medieval

Europe: A look at Life and the

Feudal Hierarchy

8th Grade Social Studies

WHY WAS FEUDALISM

NECESSARY?

A New Order

• Feudalism Overview

• A political and economic system– large landholders gave protection

to people for their service (mostly farm labor)

• Filled two needs– Peoples need for protection– Landowners need for defense

• Lasted in some areas of Europe until around 1450

• Hierarchies - orders of authority – developed between different

classes

The Feudal Hierarchy• Monarch

• Lords

• Vassal

• Knight

• Guildsmen/Craftsmen

• Peasants/Serfs

• either a king or a queen which was typically in power based on lineage

• powerful noblemen and women who owned large tracts of land

• a person who is given a manor from a lord or king

• a specially trained soldier who fights for a lord and vassal

• men who learned from a relative how to produce a particular good for the manor

• poor farmers who work the manor’s farmland in exchange for protection

The Feudal Hierarchy

Freeman (Guildsman/Craftsman)Serfs/Peasants

The Feudal Hierarchy

VassalsKnights

LABOR PROTECTION

Freeman (Guildsman/Craftsman)Serfs/Peasants

The Feudal Hierarchy

VassalsKnights

LABOR PROTECTION

Lords

Freeman (Guildsman/Craftsman)Serfs/Peasants

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

The Feudal Hierarchy

VassalsKnights

LABOR PROTECTION

Lords

Monarch

Freeman (Guildsman/Craftsman)Serfs/Peasants

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LANDLOYALTY ANDSERVICE

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

The Monarch

• Monarch • at their most powerful during the late middle-ages (about 800ad-1700ad)

• was a king or queen who ruled over a strong central government

• considered god-like in their kingdom

Lords• Lords • were most powerful during the

early middle ages (500 ad-800 ad)

• owned hundreds to thousands of acres know as fiefs

• Fiefs:– large tracts of land – granted by the monarch or

stronger lord

• gained wealth through rent, taxes, services and food from craftsmen and serfs

• lived lavishly in his castle • met regularly with his court to

discuss issues around the fief

Lady

Lady • dealt with the management of crops, animals and property

• ruled over hundreds of employees and servants

• served the manor as a nurse since doctors and surgeons were few and far between

Vassals

• Vassals • “Lord’s subjects “

• former knights who were rewarded for their service and given manors

• each manor contained a smaller castle and the ability to thwart enemy attacks with certain defenses

Homage and the Oath of Fealty• Homage

• Oath of Fealty

a vassal's public honor of allegiance to a lord

promise to remain loyal to a lord

•Vassal’s were expected to pay homage through the Oath of Fealty to the lord and lady

•Vassals also promised to raise an army to protect the lord or lady in times of trouble

Feudal Contract

LORDS

VASSALS

GIVEPROTECTION TO

GIVE SERVICE TO

Knights

• Knights • specially trained armed mounted soldiers who give military service to both their lords and vassals

• were given all the same rights and privileges as lords

Craftsmen

• Craftsmen • people that worked in each manor producing goods for the manor’s self-sufficiency

• had special skills so their work was in high demand

• many lived in wooden

homes and had enough income to support their family

Serfs• Serfs • owned no land to pass on

to future generations• lived in mud and stone

huts, (sometimes wood and stone homes)

• gave most of their harvests to their vassal or Church

• Men:typically worked the

land or were called to fight

• Women:produced food andclothing for their own

household

Comparing Serfs to LordsSerfs

• Ate eggs, bread, poultry, some meat, and vegetables

• Wore wool and animal skin clothes

• Benefited from their beasts of burden, selling some crops, and bartering what little they had

Lords• Ate meat, game,

fish, pastries, spices, and vegetables

• Wore wool, silk, and linen clothes

• Acquired wealth from rent, taxes, services and products from their fief, and the prizes of conquest.

Quick Write #6

How did the Feudal Hierarchy and it’s protection work?

After taking notes, describe in order of rank the people and their jobs, and explain why paying homage and taking the Oath of Fealty were important parts of the manor's protection?