Following the death of Charlemagne, central government again weakened and disappeared in Europe. His successors were unable to provide protection for the people against outside invasion. Trade and communication declined once again. Local communities were forced to become self-sufficient and sought ways to protect themselves. The result was a new political, social, and economic system which provided for the needs of local people. This system became known as Feudalism. By the mid 1000’s feudalism had become a way of life throughout Western Europe.
Origins of Origins of FeudalismFeudalism
Feudalism began in France in the late 800’s following the death of Charlemagne
Feudalism arose primarily as a means of protection against invaders, especially the Vikings
Feudalism spread throughout Europe over the next two centuries
What is Feudalism?What is Feudalism?
A political system of local government and military defense
A social system of distinct class based on land holding
An economic system of self-sufficient manors
Feudalism as a Political System Fiefs - Large tracts of land granted
to vassals in return for service and loyalty
Vassals - People who were given fiefs in return for service and loyalty
Lords - Nobles who owned large tracts of land called fiefs to vassals in return for service and loyalty
King
Powerful Lord Powerful LordPowerful Lord
Lesser Lord
Lesser Lord
Lesser Lord
Lesser Lord
Lesser Lord
Lesser Lord
Peasants Peasants Peasants
Protection
FiefsService
Loyalty
Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights
Knights Knights Knights Knights KnightsKnights
ProtectionFiefs
ServiceLoyalty
Feudal SocietyFeudal Society KingKing - Owned all land - Owned all land Nobles Nobles - - Vassals of kings called Lords who Vassals of kings called Lords who
controlled large tracts of landcontrolled large tracts of land Knights Knights - - Lowest and most numerous group of Lowest and most numerous group of
noblesnobles
Clergy Clergy - Priests, monks, nuns - Priests, monks, nuns
Serfs & Peasants- Serfs & Peasants- Working poor who worked lived and Working poor who worked lived and worked on the land of lords. Serfs were bound to land worked on the land of lords. Serfs were bound to land through oath of loyalty to a lord. Usually uneducated. through oath of loyalty to a lord. Usually uneducated. Served several days a year in the lord’s army. Served several days a year in the lord’s army.
Upper ClassUpper Class
Middle ClassMiddle Class
Lower ClassLower Class
Feudalism as an Economic SystemFeudalism as an Economic System
The most important aspect of the feudal system was the large estate called a manormanor. The manor acted as a self-sufficient economic unit and generally ranged from 500 to 5000 acres. The economic system of feudalism is therefore known as ManoralismManoralism
Feudalism as an Feudalism as an Economic SystemEconomic System
Farm and Pasture LandFarm and Pasture Land• The Lord’s land - best of the land. Usually 1/3 of the
manor• Serf’s land - Spread throughout the manor. Usually
poor in fertility
The Lord’s CastleThe Lord’s Castle• Center of political and military activity. • Provided protection during attack
The VillageThe Village• Contained serf’s huts, artisan’s shops, and the lord wine
press, flour mill, and baking ovens. Villagers paid the lord to use the facilities.
A typical manor consisted of the following:
KnighthoodKnighthoodThe lowest level of nobility was The lowest level of nobility was the knight. Generally, the sons of the knight. Generally, the sons of nobles would be trained as nobles would be trained as knights beginning at an early knights beginning at an early age. Eventually, the knight might age. Eventually, the knight might become a lord after inheriting the become a lord after inheriting the wealth and land of his father. wealth and land of his father. Others could become knights too. Others could become knights too. There were two types of knights: There were two types of knights:
Knights of the BathKnights of the Bath
PagePage •At age 7, the young boy was sent to the castle of a lord where he waited on his host and learned manners.
•He spent leisure time hunting and playing war games with other pages
Sons of nobles trained to become knights. They were trained in three stages:
•Around age 14, the page would be promoted to a squire.
•He was assigned to a knight and would help him with weapons and armor.
•He traveled with the knight into battle and practiced his skills.
SquireSquire
•At age 21, the squire became a full fledged knight.
•He first took an elaborate bath to wash away the impurities of body and soul.
•He spent a day fasting and a night praying.
•The lord dubbed him a knight by tapping him on the shoulder with a sword.
KnightKnight
Knights of the FieldKnights of the Field•A young man could A young man could
occasionally become a occasionally become a knight by showing valor knight by showing valor on the battlefield. on the battlefield. • He could be knighted by He could be knighted by
a lord without going a lord without going through formal trainingthrough formal training
The Code of ChivalryThe Code of Chivalry
1. Loyalty to God and the knights lord2. Protection of the oppressed and poor3. Courage, courtesy, and generosity4. Support of justice5. Defense of Christianity
Late in the period of feudalism, a code of conduct developed that would change feudal life. This code, called the Code Code of Chivalryof Chivalry stressed:
Decline of FeudalismFeudalism began to gradually disappear in the Feudalism began to gradually disappear in the late 1100’s. Disease, ignorance, poverty, and late 1100’s. Disease, ignorance, poverty, and superstition dominated the feudal era and superstition dominated the feudal era and contributed to its demise. However, the two contributed to its demise. However, the two main reasons for the decline were the Crusades main reasons for the decline were the Crusades and the Rise of Nation States.and the Rise of Nation States.
The Crusades (1095-1291)The Crusades (1095-1291) Four major religious wars in which Europeans attempted to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. Europeans were introduced to eastern ideas and goods. As the demand for eastern goods increased, feudal economies began to weaken.The Rise of Nation StatesThe Rise of Nation StatesBetween the 14th and 17th centuries, nation states developed powerful governments headed by absolute monarchs. Feudal governments weakened as a result.