Social Classes in World History

Several important social classes in history

Medieval Europe500 AD to 1500AD

Social Classes

•Medieval Europe (the Middle Ages) had a social class based called “Feudalism”•Feudalism was the political, economic, and social interaction of upper class knights and nobles with lower class peasants and serfs, all who lived on manors.•Feudalism is also the political and social interaction of the upper class nobles only.

Medieval Europe500 AD to 1500AD

• Medieval Europe (the Middle Ages) had a social class based called “Feudalism”

• Feudalism was the political, economic, and social interaction of upper class knights and nobles with lower class peasants and serfs, all who lived on manors.

• Feudalism is also the political and social interaction of the upper class nobles only.

MEDIEVAL LIFECooperation and Mutual

ObligationsKING

LORDS (VASSALS TO KING)

KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS)

Fief and Peasants

Military Aid

Food Protection Shelter

Food Protection Shelter

PEASANTS (SERFS)Pay Rent

Fief and Peasants

Food Protection Shelter

Farm the Land

Homage Military Service

Loyalty

FEUDALISM: POLITICAL SYSTEM

Decentralized, local government

Dependent upon the relationship between members of the nobility

Lord and his vassals administered justice and were the highest authority in their land

MANORIALISM: ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Agriculture the basis for wealth

Lands divided up into self-sufficient manors

Peasants (serfs) worked the land and paid rent In exchange for protection

Barter the usual form of exchange

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

The Feudal SystemThe Feudal System• Under the feudal Under the feudal

system, system, the king the king awarded land awarded land grants or fiefs grants or fiefs to his to his most important most important noblesnobles and knights and knights in return for their in return for their loyalty and loyalty and contribution of contribution of soldiers soldiers for the for the king's armies. king's armies.

Feudalism:Feudalism:• Hierarchical Hierarchical

system in system in which every which every noble is noble is another noble’s another noble’s vassal vassal (servant)(servant)

• Land was Land was exchanged for exchanged for military servicemilitary service

• Manor: Manor: estateestate• Noble: Noble: wealthy warrior land wealthy warrior land

ownerowner• Lord: Lord: noble. head of manornoble. head of manor• Knight: Knight: nobles who were nobles who were

warriorswarriors• Vassal: Vassal: noble who serves a lordnoble who serves a lord• Peasants: Peasants: lower class farmerslower class farmers• Serf: Serf: peasants who bound to the peasants who bound to the

land owned by the lord of the land owned by the lord of the castle, they could never leave castle, they could never leave the manor they lived on; much of the manor they lived on; much of their income went to the lord; no their income went to the lord; no chance to change your life if you chance to change your life if you were a serf; no way to work your were a serf; no way to work your way up; no time for theater, etc.way up; no time for theater, etc.

FeudalismFeudalism

KINGS:KINGS:• Kings at top of Kings at top of

hierarchyhierarchy• As As God’s deputy God’s deputy

on earth (“on earth (“divine divine right of kingsright of kings”), ”), can’t question the can’t question the king’s authorityking’s authority

BARONS:BARONS:• Important noblemenImportant noblemen• Rich and powerfulRich and powerful• Land was almost the only Land was almost the only

form of wealthform of wealth; Currency ; Currency money barely existed: money barely existed: Rank and power were Rank and power were determined by the determined by the amount of land you had.amount of land you had.

FeudalismFeudalismBISHOPS:BISHOPS:• Of the Of the churchchurch• Were often of Were often of equal equal

power to barons; had power to barons; had property and wealthproperty and wealth

Fief [feef]: Fief [feef]: grant of grant of land given directly by land given directly by the king; in return, the king; in return, nobelmen gave the nobelmen gave the king soldiers king soldiers in in wartime.wartime.

LORDS (KNIGHTS): LORDS (KNIGHTS): • first and foremost a first and foremost a

lord was a knight by lord was a knight by professionprofession: provided : provided men and arms for men and arms for baron and king.baron and king.

• Also often raided Also often raided each others’ each others’ properties.properties.

• ChivalryChivalry: : medieval medieval institution of institution of knighthood; knighthood; qualities qualities idealized by knightsidealized by knights——bravery, courtesy, bravery, courtesy, honestyhonesty

Nobles and VassalsNobles and Vassals

• Nobles divided their Nobles divided their land among the land among the lesser nobilitylesser nobility, , who who became their became their vassalsvassals. Many of . Many of these vassals these vassals became so powerful became so powerful that the that the kings had kings had difficulty controlling difficulty controlling them. them.

The Lord of the ManorThe Lord of the Manor

• For safety For safety and defense, and defense, peoplepeople in the in the Middle Ages Middle Ages formed small formed small communities communities around a around a central lordcentral lord or or master. master.

Feudalism: Feudalism: FREEMEN: FREEMEN:

FREEMEN: FREEMEN: Free PeasantsFree Peasants• owned their own land owned their own land independently of independently of

a lorda lord• In In early feudalismearly feudalism, freemen were , freemen were

limited to the LORDS’ APPOINTED limited to the LORDS’ APPOINTED OFFICIALS, and A FEW MERCHANTS OFFICIALS, and A FEW MERCHANTS AND CRAFTSMEN (much more in later AND CRAFTSMEN (much more in later middle ages as economy changed).middle ages as economy changed).

Feudalism: Feudalism: SERFSSERFSSERFS/VILLEINS: SERFS/VILLEINS:

Peasants who were Peasants who were not free to leave not free to leave their home. their home.

• Lived on the lord’s Lived on the lord’s manor.manor.

• Peasants’ work: Peasants’ work: EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING—land, —land, animals, animals’ animals, animals’ dung, homes, clothes, dung, homes, clothes, BELONGED TO THE BELONGED TO THE LORD OF THE LORD OF THE MANORMANOR..

• Couldn’t leave the Couldn’t leave the manor property manor property without permissionwithout permission

• More than 90% of More than 90% of the population the population were peasants or were peasants or slaves, according slaves, according to the Domesday to the Domesday Book (pronounced Book (pronounced Dooms-day, and Dooms-day, and DOES mean that; DOES mean that; suggests it is a suggests it is a definitive census).definitive census).

The SerfsThe Serfs

• At the At the lowest level of lowest level of society were the serfssociety were the serfs, , also called serfs or also called serfs or villeins. villeins.

• The lord offered his The lord offered his peasants protection in peasants protection in exchange for living exchange for living and working on his and working on his landland. .

Hard Work & High TaxesHard Work & High Taxes

• Peasants worked hard Peasants worked hard to to cultivate the land cultivate the land and produce the goodsand produce the goods that the lord and his that the lord and his manor needed. manor needed.

• They were They were heavily heavily taxedtaxed and were and were required to relinquish required to relinquish much of what they much of what they harvested. harvested.

Bound by law and custom…Bound by law and custom…• It is the custom in England, as with It is the custom in England, as with

other countries, for the nobility to have other countries, for the nobility to have great power over the common people, great power over the common people, who are serfs. This means that they who are serfs. This means that they are are bound by law and custombound by law and custom to to plough the field of their masters, plough the field of their masters, harvest the grain, gather it into barns, harvest the grain, gather it into barns, and thresh and winnow the grain; they and thresh and winnow the grain; they must also mow and carry home the must also mow and carry home the hay, cut and collect wood, and perform hay, cut and collect wood, and perform all manner of tasks of this kind.all manner of tasks of this kind.

-- Jean Froissart, 1395 -- Jean Froissart, 1395 

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

How to become a KnightHow to become a Knight

KNIGHT

SQUIRE

PAGE

ChivalryChivalry:: A Code of Honor and A Code of Honor and Behavior of knightsBehavior of knights

The ManorThe Manor

• Most people Most people lived on a lived on a manormanor, which , which consisted of consisted of the castle (or the castle (or manor house), manor house), the church, the church, the village, the village, and the and the surrounding surrounding farm land. farm land.

The Medieval ManorThe Medieval Manor

Life on the Medieval ManorLife on the Medieval Manor

SerfsSerfs at work at work

Self-SufficiencySelf-Sufficiency• Each manor was largely Each manor was largely self-self-

sufficient, growing or sufficient, growing or producing all of the basic producing all of the basic items needed for food, items needed for food, clothing, and shelterclothing, and shelter. .

• To meet these needs, the To meet these needs, the manor had buildings devoted manor had buildings devoted to special purposes, such as:to special purposes, such as:– The The millmill for grinding grain for grinding grain– The The bake housebake house for for

making breadmaking bread– The The blacksmithblacksmith shop for shop for

creating metal goods. creating metal goods.

Question 6

What is the difference between feudalism and serfdom?

A)Feudalism ties people to the land but serfs can move around freely.B)Feudalism is an agreement between upper class individuals and serfs, who are lower class peasants.C)Serfs are able to own land if they serve in the army but feudal lords must pay their soldiers.D)None. They are different terms for the same thing.

Medieval JapanMedieval Japan500 AD to 1500AD Social Classes500 AD to 1500AD Social Classes

•Medieval Japan also had a social class based Medieval Japan also had a social class based on “Feudalism” like Europe, but also on on “Feudalism” like Europe, but also on Chinese “Confucianism”Chinese “Confucianism”

•Feudalism was the political, economic, and Feudalism was the political, economic, and social interaction of upper class knights and social interaction of upper class knights and nobles with lower class peasants.nobles with lower class peasants.

•Confucianism was a Chinese philosophy Confucianism was a Chinese philosophy which stressed respect for elders and for which stressed respect for elders and for authority. It also emphasized education.authority. It also emphasized education.

Feudal Feudal SocietySociety

The emperor The emperor reigned, but did reigned, but did not always rule!not always rule!

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

Japan:Japan: Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Shoen

Land - Shoen

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

Japanese Feudal SocietyJapanese Feudal Society

Name Characteristics

Samurai Warriors. Could carry two swords. Had power of life and death. Were also educated and did government jobs

Peasants Due to Confucianism respect for farming, peasants were the second highest class. They could own land and produce food, but were not allowed to own swords.

Artisans/Craftsmen Artisans had skills to make useful items, such as furniture, pottery, jewelry, bread, or any other items. They could make more money than peasants, but could not own land.

Merchants Merchants were the lowest class and were hated because they seemed to cheat others. They did not make anything, only sold what others made.

Japanese Feudal SocietyJapanese Feudal Society

Other Vocabulary Definition

Emperor Not really the leader of japan. More like a religious leader. Similar to the Pope in Europe

Shogun Real military leader of japan. Like the king in Europe.

Daimyo Wealthy nobles and land owners. They employed samurai

Samurai Warrior knight and government workers who were employed by daimyo

Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi

(1536-1598)Unifies Japan

Creates strict social class. Samurai top, but cannot own land

Tries to invade Korea, but fails.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Four-class systemFour-class system laid down with marriage laid down with marriage restricted to members of the same class! restricted to members of the same class!

Top class: Top class: SamuraiSamurai. Can carry swords . Can carry swords but not own landbut not own land

Second Class: Second Class: FarmersFarmers. No swords, but . No swords, but can own landcan own land

Third Class: Third Class: ArtisansArtisans, made things., made things.

Bottom class: Bottom class: MerchantsMerchants. Very low. Like . Very low. Like modern drug dealersmodern drug dealers

Full Samurai AttireFull Samurai Attire

Full Samurai AttireFull Samurai Attire

Two swords: katana (long sword) and wakisashi (short sword).

Long bow: yumi

Light, flexible, armor: yori

Helmet: kabuto

Samurai SwordSamurai Sword

Early Mounted Early Mounted Samurai Warriors: mainly Samurai Warriors: mainly

archers. Mongols anyone?archers. Mongols anyone?

Samurai Charging with Samurai Charging with Yari (spear with sword Yari (spear with sword

head)head)

Seppuku: Seppuku: Ritual Suicide if a samurai Ritual Suicide if a samurai lost honor or was disloyallost honor or was disloyal

Kaishaku – his “seconds”It is honorable to

die this way.

Feudalism in EuropeFeudalism in EuropeA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

European Feudalism:

King

Lord Lord

Knight Knight Knight

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Fief

Land - Fief

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

European knightJapanese Samurai

vs

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Knight’s ArmorSamurai Armor

vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Hiroshima Castle

Japanese PeasantsJapanese Peasants

Japanese Village and Rice Japanese Village and Rice PaddiesPaddies

Shinto ( 神道 ) is the indigenous religion of Japan. It is a set of practices to establish a connection between the living and spirits (kami) which inhabit everything.Japanese emperors were the head of Shinto (like the Pope in Western Europe) and they performed the most important Shinto rituals.

Amaterasu

Japans Native Religion: Shinto

ShintoShintoShintoShinto

Shinto Priests and archery

Japanese borrowed Religion: Zen Buddhis

A Japanese variation of Buddhism, which came from India through China.

It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self-discipline.

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism Seeks sudden enlightenment Seeks sudden enlightenment

through meditationthrough meditation, arriving at , arriving at emptiness .emptiness .

Samurai followed Zen because it Samurai followed Zen because it required intense concentration, just required intense concentration, just like warfare did.like warfare did.

Beauty, art, and aesthetics:Beauty, art, and aesthetics: Gardens.Gardens. Archery.Archery. Tea ceremony.Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.Calligraphy.

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism Intense concentration doing activities in Intense concentration doing activities in

a precise manner can trigger sudden a precise manner can trigger sudden enlightenmentenlightenment..