Feudalism, Knights, and Chivalry

Feudalism

• Feudalism is a system where nobles gave land to vassals in exchange for military service.
• A vassal was a warrior who served a lord in battle.
• A knight was a heavily armored soldier on horseback.
• Fief refers to land given to a vassal by a lord.
• Feudal Contract refers to the unwritten rules between a lord and his vassal.
• Chivalry was a knight’s code of honor, encompassing loyalty, bravery, and respect.

Knights and Chivalry

• Knights needed bigger horses to carry heavy armor and weapons, making them stronger in battle.
• Ideals of chivalry included loyalty to the lord, protecting the weak and the Church, honor in battle, fair treatment of prisoners, and respect toward noblewomen.

Weakening of Europe

• After Charlemagne’s death, Europe weakened due to the empire being divided among his grandsons, and attacks by Vikings and other invaders.

The Start of Feudalism

• Feudalism started because kings became too weak to protect people.
• People turned to nobles for protection, who gave land (fiefs) to vassals for military service in return.

Structure of Feudal Society

• King: Gave land to powerful nobles.
• Lords/Nobles: Owned land and had vassals.
• Knights: Fought for lords and received land.
• Peasants/Serfs: Worked the land for protection.

Technology and Farming

• Carruca: A heavy, iron plow that improved farming.
• Manor: A large estate run by a lord and worked by peasants.
• Serf: A peasant legally tied to the land, working for a lord.

Society

• Bourgeoisie: The middle class, including merchants and traders.
• Patrician: A wealthy and powerful landowner or noble.

Patricians

• Citizens allowed patricians to control elections because they were wealthy and powerful, controlling trade, land, and government; citizens depended on them for jobs and protection.

Growth of Cities

• Better farming led to more food, which led to more people surviving, and trade revival brought more merchants and artisans to cities.
• Money economy caused people to use coins instead of bartering.

Farming Methods Effect on Europe

• Carruca plow allowed better farming on tough soil, the three-field system kept soil fertile and increased food production, and more food led to a population doubling from 38 million to 74 million.

Life in the Manorial System

• Nobles lived in manors, controlled land, and had serfs to work for them.
• Serfs were legally tied to the land and worked three days a week for the lord; they grew their own food but paid rent and taxes and could not leave without permission.

Trade Revival

• Increased trade led to more markets and trade fairs, the start of a money economy, the formation of guilds, and the growth of banking and business, leading to capitalism.

Growth of Medieval Cities

• Trade revival led to merchants and artisans moving to cities, safer towns after Viking invasions stopped, a money economy where people worked for wages, and guilds and businesses creating jobs and opportunities.

Legal

• Common Law: A legal system based on court decisions and customs, rather than written codes.
• Magna Carta: A document signed in 1215 that limited the power of the king.
• Parliament: A representative government in England, including nobles and elected officials.
• Estate: A social or political class in medieval society.

Common Law

• Common law was better than local law codes because it created one legal system for all of England, replacing different laws in each town or region improving justice.

Events in Europe

• England: In 1066, William of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings and became king; in 1215, the Magna Carta was signed, limiting the king’s power, and Parliament was created under Edward I.
• France: Philip II Augustus (1180-1223) expanded French territory, Louis IX improved justice, and Philip IV created the Estates-General (French Parliament).
• Holy Roman Empire: Otto I became the first "Holy Roman Emperor" in 962; Frederick I & II tried to control Italy but failed, and Germany remained divided into small states.

England Post 1066

• William of Normandy became king and took a census (Domesday Book), common law replaced local laws, the Magna Carta limited the king’s power, and Parliament was created.

Philip II Augustus

• Philip II Augustus was important for France because he expanded French territory, increased royal power over nobles, and strengthened the government and economy.

Germany and Italy

• Germany and Italy did not unite into one country because Holy Roman Emperors focused on controlling Italy, German nobles became too powerful, and constant wars weakened the empire.

Muslim Rule

• Spain was ruled by Muslims (Al-Andalus) for centuries, Christians and Jews could practice their religion but had restrictions, Islamic culture influenced Spain, and the Reconquista lasted for 500+ years.

Slavic Kingdoms

• Western Slavs created Poland and Bohemia, Eastern Slavs formed Kievan Rus (early Russia), and Southern Slavs included Serbs, Croats, and Bulgarians.