Feudalism in Europe

1. Feudalism

2. What is feudalism?
What is manorialism?
How is
manorialism
connected
to feudalism?

3. Vocabulary Terms
Manor – Central part
of a nobles land
•Manorialism – A
system based on
self sufficient self sufficient
farming estates
where the lord and
the peasants lived
off the land
together
Feudalism – political
system based on an
granting land in exchange
for loyalty, and military
assistance

4. Feudalism
An economic, political, and social system based on a An economic, political, and social system based on a
relationship between the lord and his vassalsrelationship between the lord and his vassals
Sure! What’s in it
for me?
Will you
protect my
land and give
me undying
loyalty?
The vassals would receive land in exchange for protecting the nobles The vassals would receive land in exchange for protecting the nobles
estateestate

5. H
o
w

F
e
u
d
a
l
i
s
m

W
o
r
k
s
:
Wealthy
Landowner
Wealthy
Landowner
Warrior
Protected land
in exchange for
land
Owned land –
Powerful – provided
Guidance for the people
a.k.a. “Serfs” – worked
The land – belonged to the
Land – not necessarily the
noble

6. The ManorThe Manor
Lord’s House/ Castle
Church
Serfs in the field
Peasant’s House

7. Nobles House
or Castle
M
ain part of the noble’s land w
as called a
M
ain part of the noble’s land w
as called a
““m
anor
m
anor
””
The house was a fortified building or castle or The house was a fortified building or castle or
a wooden house surrounded by fortified wallsa wooden house surrounded by fortified walls
Surrounding the castle was the Surrounding the castle was the
lord’s estate which was mostly lord’s estate which was mostly
covered with farmlandcovered with farmland

8. Knights
Code of Chivalry
•Vassals
•Lived by a code of honor –
Chivalry
–Defend the Catholic Church
–Protect women and the weak
–Fight injustice
–Show courage in every battle
•Used weapons such as
battering rams, catapults,
siege towers, etc.

9. Economy
The land provided
most of the things
they needed
As a result, most
activity from
farming to wood
working, to wine
making took place
on the manor – few
people ever left the
manor

10. The Church
Christianity played an important role in the
Middle Ages
Most feudal manors were equipped with a
church for worship

11. The Peasants
The serfs were bound to the land which
meant that they were considered part of the
property. They remained with the land even if
a new lord acquired the manor

12. Legacy of Feudalism
•Loyalty and honor remain strong in European
armies
•Class structure still in existence in some countries
•Surnames, or family names – families took their
names from their jobs – Baker, Carpenter, Cook,
Taylor (tailor)
•Structures still standing – churches, castles, etc.
•Institutions still remain strong – Catholic Church