S.S. Feudalism and Manor System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the years referred to as the Middle Ages?

The years between ancient and modern times.

What does the term 'Medieval' refer to?

Referring to the Middle Ages.

What is feudalism?

A system in which land was owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in return for their loyalty.

What is a manor?

A large estate, often including farms and a village, ruled by a lord. Signup and view all the answers

Who is a serf?

A farm worker considered part of the manor on which he or she worked. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a knight?

A soldier that protects people of the social classes above and below him. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the higher and lower social classes compared to a knight?

Higher= lords; Lower= peasants/squires. Signup and view all the answers

What held society together during the feudal system?

A hierarchy of social classes from peasants to kings. Signup and view all the answers

What three things did the Roman Empire spread?

Culture, Latin, Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

What three broad things contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?

Economic troubles, social troubles, invasions from the Northern Germanic tribes. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Northern Germanic tribes impact the Roman Empire?

They cut off trade routes, kept their own languages and laws, and broke the Roman Empire's bonds. Signup and view all the answers

Who invaded the former Roman Empire, now known as the Germanic tribes, and what was the name of their king?

The Franks invaded, and their king was Charlemagne. Signup and view all the answers

How did Charlemagne expand his empire?

By conquering weaker kingdoms that were fighting one another. Signup and view all the answers

What happened after Charlemagne died?

His land was divided among his three sons, who fought one another, weakening the empire. Signup and view all the answers

From where did the Vikings come, and what were they known for?

They came from Northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) and were known as skilled warriors and tough sailors. Signup and view all the answers

How long did the Viking attacks last?

300 years. Signup and view all the answers

Name four characteristics of the Vikings.

They surprised Europe with attacks, reopened trade routes, settled in Northern Europe, and did not unite Charlemagne's empire. Signup and view all the answers

Who had power in Western Europe during feudalism?

Those who controlled land (nobles, barons, and princes). Signup and view all the answers

Who gave a fief, and what is a fief?

A man who controlled land gave a fief; a fief is a share of land. Signup and view all the answers

How must a lord behave with his vassal?

Lords must treat vassals with honor and provide protection. Signup and view all the answers

How must a vassal behave with his lord?

Vassals must raise armies, go to court if commanded, and pay taxes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a manor house?

A house where the lord of the manor lived. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the lord of a manor?

A vassal of a king or of a more powerful lord. Signup and view all the answers

Why did manors have to be self-sufficient?

Manors were located far from towns, needing to produce their own food and necessities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between a manor and its lord?

The lord depends on the wealth his manor provides and makes rules. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the role of noble women in feudal society.

Noble women trained to become ladies of the household and ruled over servants. Signup and view all the answers

Were serfs slaves?

False Signup and view all the answers

Explain the job of a peasant.

Peasants farmed the lord's fields and raised food while having limited land for themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the living conditions of a peasant.

Peasants lived in a one-room hut, cooked over a fire on dirt floors, and had very simple food. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between feudalism and manorialism?

Feudalism is a regional system of economic and political life, while manorialism is local. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Middle Ages and Terms

The Middle Ages span the years between ancient and modern times.
Medieval refers specifically to this period, characterized by unique cultural and societal structures.

Feudalism

A social system where land is owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in exchange for loyalty.
Vassals are required to provide military service to their lords.

Manor System

A manor is a large estate including farms and a village, governed by a lord.
Manors operated independently and needed to be self-sufficient for food and essential goods.

Serfs

Serfs were farm workers bound to a manor, unable to leave or marry without the lord's permission.
They were not slaves; they could earn money and potentially buy their freedom and land.

Knights

Knights are soldiers who protect the social classes above and below them.
Payment for a knight's service comes in the form of land and honor, marked by a ceremony where they receive weapons and symbols of knighthood.

The societal structure consists of kings at the top, followed by nobles, lords, knights, vassals, and peasants/serfs at the bottom.

Fall of the Roman Empire

Contributing factors included economic troubles, social unrest, and invasions from Northern Germanic tribes.
The Germanic tribes changed the landscape of Europe, disrupting trade and preserving their distinct languages and cultures.

Charlemagne

Expanded his empire by conquering weaker kingdoms amid feudal strife.
Known for establishing schools, spreading Christianity, improving the economy, and maintaining unity in Western Europe for nearly 50 years.
Upon his death, his empire weakened due to divisions among his sons and external attacks from Vikings.

Vikings

Originated from present-day Denmark, Sweden, and Norway; skilled warriors and sailors responsible for 300 years of raids in Europe.
Their attacks included burning, looting, and reestablishing trade routes, but they did not unify the former Roman territories.

Feudalism Duration and Power Dynamics

Feudalism lasted approximately 100 years, held by those with land, mainly nobles and barons.
Fiefs, portions of land, were granted by lords to vassals in return for loyalty and military support.

Lords and Vassals

Lords must honor and protect their vassals, seeking their counsel on major decisions.
Vassals owe military service, attendance at court, and taxes (often in crops) to their lords.

Noble Women

Noble women received training to manage households and had responsibilities in the absence of their husbands, effectively acting as 'substitute lords'.

Peasants' Life

Peasants faced harsh living conditions, working long hours in one-room huts lacking fundamental amenities.
They farmed the lord’s fields and were limited to small personal plots, surrendering a portion of their harvest to the lord.

Economic Systems

Feudalism refers to the overarching political and economic structure, while Manorialism focuses on local economies and societal organization within the manors.

Studying That Suits You

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

Description

Test your knowledge of feudalism and the manor system with these flashcards. Learn essential terms and concepts related to the Middle Ages, including definitions and historical context. Perfect for history students seeking a clearer understanding of this period.