The Feudal system

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• Leerjaar 4

Feudalism

Feudalism developed at a time when Europe was becoming more divided between smaller kingdoms. Charlemagne had been a strong, powerful king who united all of Europe. After his death in 814 CE, however, Europe became more divided. Feudalism was a system that organized most of Europe from the late 800s until the 1700s.

Which role in a feudal society would you prefer to have?

1. King or queen; I would make a just ruler. 
2. Lord or lady; I would swear loyalty to a king and run my lands well. 
3. Knight; I would fight for my lord and work hard to protect their lands. 
4. Peasant; I would enjoy a simple life, working the farms.

Which role in a feudal society would you prefer to have?

King or queen I would make a just ruler.

Lord or ladyI would swear loyalty to a king and run my lands well.

Knight I would fight for my lord and work hard to protect their lands.

Peasant I would enjoy a simple life, working the farms.

Under the feudal system, everyone except the monarch had a ruler.

• All of the land in a kingdom belonged to the monarch (king or queen). The king would award some of the land to lords who fought for him.
• The lords were nobles who ran their lands like small kingdoms. The nobles kept a small standing army, made of knights and lords. The noble was expected to quickly fight for the king during times of war. The nobles also had many tenants who lived on their lands, working the fields.    
  

Medieval artwork depicting farm laborers. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Pietro de Crescenzi, Condé Museum

How did the nobles benefit the king during feudal times?

1. Nobles explored new lands for the king to take possession over.
2. Nobles were there to protect the king and pay him taxes.
3. Nobles served as educators of the king's household.
4. Nobles were independent of the king and ran their estates on their own.

Under the feudal system, everyone except the monarch had a ruler.

• The peasants who worked the fields were called serfs. Serfs did not own the land they lived on or get paid for their work. Instead, they paid homage to the nobles by pledging to be loyal. They would also raise crops and livestock for the manor. In return, serfs got protection from their lord. About 90% of the population was in this peasant group.

14th-century rural scene of an official directing serfs. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons, Queen Mary's Psalter, British Library

homage

Paying homage means promising to be loyal

What does to pay homage mean?

1. Promise to be loyal
2. Promise to pay taxes
3. Promise to join the army
4. Promise to farm the land

What did serfs receive from their lord in exchange for their work and homage?

1. Land
2. Protection
3. Food
4. Money

Under the feudal system, people’s lives were highly controlled. Communities owed their loyalty to their local lord. A permanent division was created between the wealthy people who owned land and the poor who rented or worked it.

• Under the feudal system, people’s lives were highly controlled. Communities owed their loyalty to their local lord. A permanent division was created between the wealthy people who owned land and the poor who rented or worked it.

• In return, the lord was supposed to make sure the people under his care were protected and fed.

Feudalism: the basis of political organisation from the 10th tp 15th centuries

Go to page 14-15 of your book. Answer questions 1-7