The Manorial System

Bell Ringer: What is a Manor, and looking at the word, What do you

suspect the word Feudalism means?

What is the Manorial System?

• Feudalism: Europeans ruled by independent leaders (local lords)

• Leaders shaped the social and political structure of the Middle Ages.

• Manorialism shaped the economy.

How does Manorialism Work?

Peasant Life

• Life was difficult: spent doing hours of backbreaking work.

• Peasants were called Serfs.

• They could not leave the land without the Lord’s permission.

• Meals were bread and lentils.

• Life Expectancy was short: due to disease, starvation, and warfare.

Nobles’ Lifestyle

• Lord’s lived in castles. Castles were built into hills or landforms, and usually had a moat for protection.

• Main Area of castle was a Keep. A tower that contained storage rooms, workshops, and the living quarters.

• Marriage was a means for advancement.

Chivalry• Code of conduct.• Was a system of

rules that dictated knights’ behaviors towards others.

• To become a Knight there was a strict process to follow.

• Knights were required to be heroic, but only courteous to those in the same class.

Stage 1: Boy has to belong to the noble class. At age 11,

boys serve as a Knight’s Attendant. They would learn manners, about weapons,

and their care.Stage 2:

Boy becomes a squire. Squire takes care of the horses,

armor, weapons. Once ready

Squire would accompany the Knight to battle.

Read• Complete the Skill Building Strategy

on page 296.• In complete sentences finish the

Section 2 Review (page 299): Questions 1, 3, 4. Number 4 should be at least one detailed page!