Feudal System Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was the role of the seneschal in a manor?

To ensure peasants worked hard in the fields

To manage the noble's fiefs by visiting each regularly (correct)

To live in a castle

To give out fines and punishments

Every manor had a court of law that settled disputes and discussed manor business.

True

What types of food did the men and women of the manor produce?

Food, clothing, and shelter, including grain, vegetables, meat, milk, and wool.

The cottages in the village were mostly made of __________ and earth.

wood Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles with their responsibilities:

Seneschal = Managed the noble's fiefs Bailiff = Supervised the peasants' work Court = Settled disputes and discussed manor business Village = Contained cottages and communal areas Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary duty of a vassal?

To help the lord in battle Signup and view all the answers

All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

True Signup and view all the answers

What was given to a vassal to show that the lord's word could be trusted?

a glove, a stick, or a stone Signup and view all the answers

A vassal's fief typically passed on to his oldest ________ when he died.

son Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles with their descriptions:

Lord = Noble who provides protection and land Vassal = Noble who promises loyalty and service Knight = Warrior on horseback Peasant = Worker who cultivates the land Signup and view all the answers

What ceremony formally established the tie between a lord and a vassal?

Act of homage Signup and view all the answers

Vassals were required to provide food and entertainment when their lord visited.

True Signup and view all the answers

How many days a year were vassals expected to perform military service?

40 to 60 days Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary basis of power during feudal times?

Ownership of land Signup and view all the answers

Kings had full control over land ownership before feudalism was established.

True Signup and view all the answers

Who began the practice of giving fiefs to soldiers in exchange for loyalty?

Charles Martel Signup and view all the answers

After Charlemagne’s death in 814, Europe had no ____ government.

central Signup and view all the answers

What role did nobles take on by 900 in regards to their lands?

Protect their lands and people Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles with their corresponding responsibilities in the feudal system:

Nobles = Collect taxes and enforce laws Peasants = Work the fields Kings = Oversee the entire territory Vikings = Invade and raid settlements Signup and view all the answers

Peasants had equal rights to participate in the government as the clergy and nobles.

False Signup and view all the answers

What did peasants give in return for protection from nobles?

Their land and labor Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feudal System

Power based on land ownership, Kings initially owned all land, Charles Martel distributed land (fiefs) for loyalty and service
Land ownership tied to military service, Power and wealth came with land, Example followed by European Kings after Martel's example
Rise of Feudal Territories, Weak Kings after Charlemagne's death, Could not control kingdoms, Needed nobles for resources
Nobles gained power and independence, Collected taxes, Enforced laws in their areas, Built armies, and minted their own coins
Nobles Protected Lands and People, Protected peasants from Vikings by building fortresses, peasants gave land and freedom in return for protection
Feudal Territories, Divided Western Europe into small territories in 1000 AD, Similar size to ancient Greek city-states, Noble controlled the areas politically
NO Central City, Unlike Greek polis (city-states), Nobles held political power
Peasant status, Peasants had little to no political power, Believed God wanted the hierarchy as it was, Few people challenged the system
Lord and Vassal, Loyalty and Duty among nobles, Vassal served a higher-ranking noble (lord), Vassal received protection in return
Act of Homage, Ceremony, Vassal knelt before lord, pledged loyalty, lord accepted the pledge, a symbolic gesture of trust,

Lord and Vassal Relationship

Vassal Service, Loyalty, Vassals had to support lord in battle, 40-60 days of military service per year
Vassal Payments, Vassals gave money for lord's events (e.g., daughter's marriage, son becoming knight), Ransomed lords if captured
Vassal Duties, At tended lord's court, Provided food and entertainment, If a vassal failed, lord could take the fief/land
Succession, When vassal died, the fief usually went to oldest son, Important aspects of Feudalism

Manor Life

Dependence on Land, Nobles, Knights, and peasants relied on land for resources and survival
Manor System, Farming communities (Manors) were located on fiefs, owned by nobles
Manor Officials, Nobles chose officials to manage manors (e.g., seneschal, bailiff), Ensured orders were followed and the needs of the noble were fulfilled. This included law courts to resolve conflicts
Daily Life, Isolated manor life, Villages were self-sufficient in food, clothing, and shelter, Produced their own food, livestock, cloth, and tools. There was very little trade between manors
Village Structure,Cottages clustered around a green space(village green), Made of wood and earth, Usually only one room
Living Conditions, Simple and crowded living conditions, Poor sanitation, Diseases, and fleas widespread, Very limited furniture (3-legged stools and tables), slept on piles of straw or dirt

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the intricacies of the Feudal System, which was characterized by land ownership and military service. Discover how land was distributed by rulers like Charles Martel and the rise of noble power in Western Europe. Learn about the social hierarchy involving kings, nobles, and peasants during this transformative period.