Early Medieval Europe

1. Early Medieval Europe FEUDALISM

2. Following the death of Charlemagne, central government again weakened and disappeared in Europe. His successors were unable to provide protection for the people against outside invasion. Trade and communication declined once again. Local communities were forced to become self-sufficient and sought ways to protect themselves. The result was a new political, social, and economic system which provided for the needs of local people. This system became known as Feudalism. By the mid 1000’s feudalism had become a way of life throughout Western Europe.

3. What is Feudalism? • A political system of local government and military defense • A social system of distinct class based on land holding • An economic system of self-sufficient manors

4. Origins of Feudalism • Feudalism began in France in the late 800’s following the death of Charlemagne • Feudalism arose primarily as a means of protection against invaders, especially the Vikings • Feudalism spread throughout Europe over the next two centuries

5. Feudalism as a Political System • Fiefs - Large tracts of land granted to someone in return for service and loyalty • Vassals - People who were granted land in return for service and loyalty • Lords - Nobles who granted fiefs to vassals in return for service and loyalty

6. King Royal Vassels

7. King Protection Fiefs Royal Vassels Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Powerful Lord

8. King Protection Fiefs Royal Vassels Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord

9. King Protection Fiefs Royal Vassels Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights

10. King Protection Service Loyalty Fiefs Royal Vassels Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Protection Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Service Loyalty Fiefs Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Knights Peasants Peasants Peasants

11. FEUDAL SOCIETY King Powerful Lords Lesser Lords UPPER Knights MIDDLE Clergy LOWER Serfs

12. Feudal Society Upper Class • King - Owned all land • Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King • Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords • Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of nobles

13. Feudal Society Upper Class • King - Owned all land • Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King • Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords • Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of nobles Middle Class Clergy - Priests, monks, nuns, bishops

14. Feudal Society Upper Class • King - Owned all land • Powerful Lord - Royal Vassal of the King • Lesser Lord - Vassals of Powerful Lords • Knights - Lowest and most numerous group of nobles Middle Class Clergy - Priests, monks, nuns, bishops Lower Class Serfs - Bound to land through oath of loyalty to a lord. Usually uneducated. Served on lords manor and in the military

15. Feudalism as an Economic System The most important aspect of the feudal system was the large estate called a manor. The manor acted as a self-sufficient economic unit and generally ranged from 500 to 5000 acres. The economic system of feudalism is therefore known as Manoralism

16. A typical manor consisted of the following: Feudalism as an Economic System Farm and Pasture Land • The Lord’s land - best of the land. Usually 1/3 of the manor • Serf’s land - Spread throughout the manor. Usually poor in fertility The Lord’s Castle • Center of political and military activity. • Provided protection during attack The Village Contained serf’s huts, artisan’s shops, and the lord wine press, flour mill, and baking ovens.

17. Knighthood The lowest level of nobility was the knight. Generally, the sons of nobles would be trained as knights beginning at an early age. Eventually, the knight might become a lord after inheriting the wealth and land of his father. Others could become knights too. There were two types of knights:

18. Knighthood Knights of the bath were sons of nobles trained to become knights. They were trained in three stages: Knights of the Bath Page At age 7, the young boy was sent to the castle of a lord where he waited on his host and learned manners. He spent leisure time hunting and playing war games with other pages

19. Knighthood Squire Around age 14, the page would be promoted to a squire. He was assigned to a knight and would help him with weapons and armor. He traveled with the knight into battle and practiced his skills.

20. Knighthood Knight Around age 21, the squire became a full fledged knight. He first had to take an elaborate bath to wash away the impurities of body and soul. He then spent a day fasting and a night praying. He then knelt before the lord who dubbed him a knight by tapping him on the shoulder with a sword.

21. Knighthood Knights of the Field A young man could occasionally become a knight by showing valor on the battlefield. He could be knighted by a lord without going through formal training

22. The Code of Chivalry Late in the period of feudalism, a code of conduct developed that would change feudal life. This code, called theCode of Chivalrystressed: 1. Loyalty to God and the knights lord 2. Protection of the oppressed and poor 3. Courage, courtesy, and generosity 4. Support of justice 5. Defense of Christianity

23. Feudalism began to gradually disappear in the late 1100’s. Disease, ignorance, poverty, and superstition dominated the feudal era and contributed to its demise. However, the two main reasons for the decline were The Crusades and The Rise of Nation States. Decline of Feudalism The Crusades (1095-1291) Four major religious wars in which Europeans attempted to reclaim the Holy Land from the Moslems. Europeans were introduced to eastern ideas and goods. As the demand for eastern goods increased, feudal economies began to weaken. The Rise of Nation States Between the 14th and 17th centuries, nation states developed powerful governments headed by absolute monarchs. Feudal governments weakened as a result.