Feudalism & Social Order

Medieval Europe: Feudalism & Social Order:

Medieval Europe: Feudalism & Social Order 500-1500 C.E.

Feudalism:

Feudalism Feudalism is a term describing the relationship between lords (nobility and church), vassals, serfs, and freemen. A lord was the lawful owner of land. A vassal was granted use of the land, known as a fief, in exchange for an oath of fealty. Fealty included: loyalty, military service and products from the land. Serfs were bound to the land, while freemen worked the land in exchange for part of their production. 2

The Feudal System:

The Feudal System The feudal system of government operated by means of allegiances and mutual protection. Medieval society was organized in a hierarchy. 3 King Lords Vassals Freemen Serfs Pope

Manoralism:

Manoralism Manorialism was the rural economic system of medieval western Europe. Under the manorial system, lords granted land to vassals who directed the labor of serfs and freemen living on the land. Serfs and freemen had obligations to the vassal and lord in the form of labor, produce, or money. 4

Medieval Society:

Medieval Society 5 The Church The Kingdom Fiefs & Peasants Vassal Lords King Fealty Military Service Honor and Money Protection and food Freemen Serfs Knights Pope Crops and Services Economic System: Manorialism Allegiance Mutual Protection Cooperation Political System: Feudalism

Lords & Vassals:

Lords & Vassals The king controlled all the land of the kingdom. He was the number-one lord. He granted land to vassals and lords. This land was called a fief. Vassals could become lords by granting land to lesser vassals. The relation between a lord and his vassal was called fealty, meaning loyalty and obligation. Vassals and lords formed the aristocracy (nobility). 6

Lords & Vassals:

Lords & Vassals 7 Charlemagne receives oath of fealty from a high baron

Medieval Knighthood:

Medieval Knighthood In the early Middle Ages, the term knight meant a professional fighter. At that time, knights were often very poor. From the 12th century, knights became a part of a mounted, armored cavalry. 8

Medieval Knighthood:

Medieval Knighthood By the end of the Carolingian dynasty, knights had become a wealthy class of warriors. As with the trade guilds, only the sons of knights could become knights. By the 13th century, knights were the warrior class of the nobility. 9

Steps to Knighthood:

Steps to Knighthood 10 Knights had to follow a code of ethics. This was known as chivalry. Training began at age 6 or 7, when a noble son would become a page. The page was a household servant. The page would be taught manners and customs.

Steps to Knighthood:

Steps to Knighthood 11 At age 14, the page would become a squire. The squire was the personal assistant of a knight. By age 21, the squire could become a knight. Becoming a knight required an oath of chivalry

Steps to Knighthood:

Steps to Knighthood 12 Knights swore: Allegiance Chastity Protection of other Respect for the law.

Fiefdoms:

Fiefdoms Lands granted from a lord to his vassal were called fiefdoms. A vassal pledged a portion of the harvest from the fiefdom to the lord. A vassal also pledged men to support the lord’s army. 13 Fiefdom c. 1510

A Typical Fiefdom:

A Typical Fiefdom 14

Serfs:

Serfs Serfs were the peasant laborers of the fiefdom. They were bound to the land and could not leave. They could not be sold and were not slaves. They could be drafted for military service. They could also own property. 15

Freemen:

Freemen The category of freemen included tenant farmers as well as merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen. Craftsmen typically belonged to guilds. 16 Medieval market

Guilds:

Guilds Guilds controlled labor, production and trade. Guilds defined the rules of labor. On entering a guild, a craftsman began as an apprentice, working his way up to craftsman, journeyman, master, and finally grandmaster of his profession. 17 Baker

Church Diocese:

Church Diocese A diocese is both a geographical territory and an administrative unit of the Catholic church. Each diocese was administered by a bishop. He was in charge of all of the priests and their parishes. The center of the diocese was the cathedral. 18

The Medieval Parish:

The Medieval Parish Each diocese has many parishes. A parish is an organization of hamlets and villages under the supervision of one priest. Each priest answers to the bishop of the diocese in which his parish is located. 19 Monk, Bishop, Priest

The Medieval Parish:

The Medieval Parish A hamlet is a small group of homes. Medieval farming families lived in longhouses; stone built rectangular houses with turf or thatched roofs. In the winter months they shared their houses with their farm animals. Hamlets were surrounded by fields which were divided into long narrow strips. 20

Recreation of a Medieval Hamlet:

Recreation of a Medieval Hamlet 21 Image source: http://www.historic-cornwall.org.uk/flyingpast/medieval.html

The Walled Cities:

The Walled Cities In the 10th century in Western Europe, old towns with markets drew larger populations New cities were founded upon long-distance trade, or became market centers Townspeople built walls around their cities to provide physical protection from lawless nobles, greedy bishops, and bandits Peasants migrated to walled cities for work and protection Each city had to provide its own protection for citizens both inside the city walls and outside. 22

The Medieval City:

The Medieval City 23

Medieval City: Carcassone, France:

Medieval City: Carcassone , France 24

Medieval Commerce:

Medieval Commerce Manufacturing Districts Wool (blue) came from England, Spain (Corsica and Sardinia) and Hesse (Modern Holland). Linen (green) was manufactured along the coast of Belgium and France. Silk-importing centers (yellow) were located in Italy, Sicily, Catalonia, and Lyons. 25

Law: Jury & Grand Jury:

Law: Jury & Grand Jury King Henry II began the modern jury system to resolve land disputes. A jury of twelve free men was assigned to arbitrate in these disputes. He also introduced the "grand jury“ of free men charged with reporting any crimes in their jurisdiction to a judge. A criminal accused by this jury was given a trial by ordeal. 26 King Henry II

Trial by Ordeal:

Trial by Ordeal Trial by “Ordeal” is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting them to a unpleasant, usually dangerous experience. Trial by “Ordeal” was based on the belief that God was the ultimate judge of guilt Sometimes the accused was considered innocent if they survived the test, or if their injuries healed; Sometimes only death was considered proof of innocence. Death was presumed to involve a suitable reward or punishment in the afterlife, which made trial by ordeal entirely “fair.” 27

Trial by Ordeal:

Trial by Ordeal In medieval Europe, the ordeal of trial by combat was considered a judicium dei ( judgement by God): Based on the premise that God would help the innocent by performing a miracle on their behalf. 28

Trial by Ordeal:

Trial by Ordeal Ordeal of hot water The suspect placed his hand in boiling water. If, after three days, his wounds were not healed, he was found guilty. Ordeal of cold water A man accused of sorcery was submerged in a stream and acquitted if he survived. Ordeal of the cross Two contestants stood on either side of a cross and stretched out their hands horizontally. The first one to lower his arms would have them cut off. Ordeal of ingestion The accused was given dry bread and cheese blessed by a priest. If he choked on the food, he was considered guilty. 29