Fall of Rome and Feudalism

• The Western Roman Empire fell due to internal weaknesses and external pressures

Key Points of the Fall of the Western Roman Empire

• Political instability from power struggles, corruption, and ineffective leadership contributed to the fall
• Economic troubles such as excessive taxation, inflation, and trade disruptions also contributed
• Military defeats due to constant wars and overstretched resources also weakened the Empire
• Barbarian invasions, including the Visigoths' sack of Rome in 410 AD, hastened the Empire's demise
• Feudalism emerged after the fall of Rome in response to instability and provided structure for governance, defense, and economic activity

Key Points of Feudalism

• Land ownership determined social status and political influence
• Society was rigidly organized into distinct classes
• Feudal relationships were based on reciprocal arrangements between lords and vassals
• Power was distributed among local lords and not a central government

Roles and Status within the Feudal System

• Each group had roles and responsibilities that contributed to the function of society

King

• Owned all the land in the kingdom
• Granted fiefs (land) to lords in exchange for loyalty and military service
• Relied on the support of lords to maintain power

Lords/Nobles

• Controlled land and the peasants who worked on it
• Provided knights to the king for military service
• Governed their local areas, administering justice and collecting taxes

Knights

• Served lords as warriors, protecting the land and its inhabitants
• Owed military service to their lords
• Adhered to the Code of Chivalry

Peasants/Serfs

• Worked the land to produce food and other goods
• Owed labor and a portion of their produce to the lord
• Were bound to the land and could not leave without the lord's permission

Code of Chivalry

• Was a set of ethical and social guidelines that governed the behavior of knights by promoting ideals of honor, courage, and service
• Knights were expected to be courageous in battle and defend the weak
• Knights were bound to be loyal to their lord and their fellow knights
• Knights were expected to uphold their word and maintain their reputation
• Knights were expected to treat women with courtesy and respect
• Knights were expected to defend the vulnerable and oppressed
• Castles were fortified structures that served as centers of power, defense, and administration

Key points about Castles

• Moats are water-filled ditches surrounding castles for defense
• Drawbridges are retractable bridges that could be raised to prevent enemy access to the castle gate
• The Keep is the central stronghold of the castle that also served as a residence
• The Catholic Church was the dominant religious, cultural, and political institution in medieval Europe

Key points of the Catholic Church

• The Church provided spiritual guidance and sacraments
• The Church held vast landholdings and wielded considerable political power
• The Church was the primary center of learning, preserving knowledge and educating clergy and nobles
• The Church provided support for the poor, sick, and needy through monasteries and charitable organizations
• Siege weaponry played a crucial role in medieval warfare

Key Points on Seige Weapons

• Trebuchets are powerful catapults that used a counterweight to hurl massive stones at castle walls
• Battering Rams are heavy logs used to break down castle gates and walls through repeated impact
• Siege Towers are mobile wooden structures that allowed soldiers to approach castle walls and climb over them
• Internal instability, such as political corruption, economic problems, and social unrest, weakened the Western Roman Empire
• External pressures, such as constant invasions by barbarian tribes, strained the Western Roman Empire
• Military Overstretch refers to maintaining the Roman empire became hard because it required a large military
• The division of the empire into Western and Eastern empires created administrative and logistical challenges to maintaining the empire
• A decline in civic virtue occurred as a loss of traditional Roman values contributed to the empire's decay
• Castles provided fortified locations to defend against attacks and control strategic areas
• Castles served as visible symbols of a Noble's authority and status
• Castles often housed administrative functions, such as tax collection and legal proceedings
• Castles were residences for Nobles, their families, and their assistants
• Some castles supported local economies by hosting markets and craft production
• The Keep is the the strongest and most secure part of the castle

Code of Chivalry

• Designed to regulate the conduct of knights and promote honorable behavior
• Established a moral framework for the warrior class
• Mitigate the violence of warfare by setting rules of engagement
• Knights were expected to be brave, loyal, and skilled in combat
• Knights were to protect the weak, defend the Church, and uphold justice
• Influenced personal conduct, emphasizing courtesy, honor, and piety
• Helped to civilize the warrior class and reduce indiscriminate violence
• Promoted ideals of courtly love and refined manners
• Contributed to the development of a distinct aristocratic culture
• Knights should have courage, loyalty, honor, courtesy and piety

Feudal System Structure

• The King was at the top owning all the land
• Lords/Nobles were granted land (fiefs) by the king in exchange for loyalty and military service
• Vassals were lesser lords who received land from the greater lords
• Knights provided military service to their lords
• Peasants/Serfs worked the land and provided labor and goods to their lords in exchange for protection
• Distributing power among local lords reduced the risk of centralized tyranny
• Was based on reciprocal duties and responsibilities, creating a sense of social cohesion
• Provided a ready source of military manpower for defense and expansion
• The manorial system, closely linked to feudalism, organized agricultural production and ensured a steady supply of food
• A Fief is a grant of land given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service
• Homage is a formal ceremony in which a vassal pledged loyalty to his lord
• A Manor is an agricultural estate controlled by a lord, comprising farmland, villages, and other resources
• Serfdom is the condition of peasants who were bound to the land and obligated to work for their lord

Domesday book

• Commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086
• A comprehensive survey of land, property, and livestock in England
• Used to assess taxes and establish feudal obligations
• Peasants formed the majority of the population
• They worked the land, providing labor and goods to their lords
• Their lives were often difficult, with long hours and limited resources

The Domesday Book

• Commissioned to assess the wealth and resources of England for taxation purposes following the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066
• It documented land ownership, tenants, and the value of assets
• Provided William with information for governing and controlling his new kingdom

Knights

• Were highly trained warriors who provided military service to lords and kings
• Granted land (fiefs) in exchange for their loyalty and military service
• Held a privileged social position, often belonging to the nobility
• Were expected to adhere to a code of conduct known as chivalry, emphasizing honor, courage, and loyalty
• Provided protection to the lord's land and the people living on it

Catholic Church

• Dictated religious beliefs and practices with the Pope being the supreme authority
• Daily life was punctuated by sacraments: baptism, marriage, and last rites
• Provided moral guidance and enforced religious laws
• Was a center of learning, preserving knowledge and providing education through monasteries and cathedral schools
• Provided social services such as care for the poor, sick, and orphans
• Influenced art, architecture, and music, with cathedrals serving as prominent landmarks and centers of community life

William the Conqueror

• Introduced a more structured feudal system after the 1066 invasion, consolidating his power and control over the land
• This system reorganized land ownership with William and his Norman lords holding the majority of land
• The invasion led to the replacement of the English aristocracy with Norman French nobles
• Centralized government was established enhancing royal authority
• The Domesday Book provided a comprehensive survey of England's resources
• Architectural changes included the construction of castles and cathedrals
• Thesis statements consists of your main argument answering the question followed by an overview of key arguments and linking statement