The Feudal SystemThe Middle Ages

The Feudal System

Feudal and manorial systems governed life and required people to perform certain duties and obligations

Feudal system (feudalism) system of exchanging land for service

Origins of Feudalism

Originated partly as a result of Viking and Muslim invasions

Kings unable to defend their lands and the lands of their nobles

Nobles had to find a way to defend their lands

Built castles, often on hills

NOT elaborate structures usually build of wood, used as a place of shelter in attacks

Knights and Lords

Nobles needed trained soldier to defend the castles

Knights most important highly soldiers

Mounted knights in heavy armor were the best defendersBut its expensive! Had to maintain weapons, armor, and horsesKnights demand payment for their services

Fiefs and Vassals

Knights were often paid in land

Land given to a knight for service was called a fief

Anyone accepting a fief was called a vassal

A person from whom he accepted a fief was his lord

Got all that?

Feudal ObligationsLord’s Duties

Give land

Protect from attack

Resolve disputes between knights

Knight’s Duties• Provide military

service• Remain loyal

and faithful• Give money to

the lord on special occasions

Drawbacks to the Feudal System

Lord and Vassal

Europe’s feudal system was complex

Person could be both lord and vassal

Some knights with large fiefs gave smaller pieces of land to other knights created many levels of obligations

One knight could serve many lords

Drawbacks to the Feudal System

Fealty to the King

Almost everyone in the system served more than one lord

Everyone is supposed to be loyal to the king not always a reality

Some powerful nobles ignored their duties as vassals

Feudal rules can change depending on time and place

Medieval Power Structure

The Manorial SystemLords, Peasants, and Serfs

Manors owned by wealthy lords or knights

Peasants farmed manor fields

Given protection, plots of land to grown own food

SerfdomMost peasants on a farm were serfs tied to the manor

Not slaves but could not leave or marry without lord’s permission

Free PeopleManors had some free people who rented land from lord

Landowning peasants skilled workers like blacksmiths or millers

Also had a priest for spiritual needs