Feudalism and the Age of Chivalry

What caused Feudalism?

• Invasions!• Muslims attacked from the South, Viking attacked from

the North, and Magyars (Hungarians) from the East.• Because kings could not effectively defend their land,

people looked to local leaders, who raised their own armies.

• Lords gave their best soldiers land, and that land was worked by peasants.

The PlayersWe own everything, haha!

We protect the Noble’s land, so he gave us land!

We own lots of land! And we’re rich!

We have nothing

Serfs

Vassals

Lords

The Roles

• Lords were given land by a king.• The Lords then gave parts of their land, called

a fief, to Knights, in exchange for protecting that land. Once the Knight received land, he became a Vassal.

• Serfs and peasants worked the fief for Knights. Serfs were not allowed to leave the land without the permission of the Knight.

Now lets make the classroom a feudal

fief!

Manor Life• The Lord’s estate was called a manor.• Manors were usually a few square miles of

land. They contained– Fields, pastures, and woodlands– A church and workshops– Peasant houses– The Lord’s house

• The Lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland, and protection. In return, the serfs worked the land for the Lord.

Manor Life Was Not Fun

• Serfs always owed the Lord a portion of their crops.• Peasants paid a tax on grain from the Lord’s mill, and a tax on

marriage.• As soon as children were old enough to work, they were sent to

the fields.• Serfs lived in crowded, two-room cottages. They slept on the floor

and used pigs to keep them warm.• Their diet consisted on mainly grain, vegetables, cheese, and soup.

– Meat was rare.• Peasants also paid a tithe, or church tax, to the local priest

– Usually about 10% of their income.

What might a manor look like?

The Age of Chivalry

What is Chivalry?

• Chivalry was a complex set of ideals, demanding that a knight fight bravely in defense of his three masters.

• Three masters?– His feudal lord– His heavenly Lord– His lady

• A good knight was also expected to defend the weak and the poor.– Yeah right.

New Technology of Warfare

• Charles Martel observed the power of cavalry while watching Muslim invaders.– Martel began constructing his army around cavalry

• Leather saddles and stirrups made it to Europe from Asia, and changed the way war was conducted.– Saddled allowed knights to remain firmly seated on

his horse.– Stirrups enabled the knight to use heavier weapons.

• Other new weapons included: siege tower, trebuchet, battering ram, and mangonel

The Warrior’s Role in Feudal Society

• Remember…– To defend their territory, feudal lords raised private

armies– They gave their best warriors a piece of their land

• Wealth from the fiefs allowed the knights to devote their lives to protecting the land.

• Lords usually demanded that a knight spend 40 days per year on combat.

• When not participating in combat, knights would build their skills by hunting and wrestling.

Training

• Knights were always sons of nobles.• Age 7: boys were sent to the castle of another

lord.– Called a page– Practice fighting– Act as a servant to his host

• Age 14: he became a squire– Served as a servant to a knight

• Age 21: full-fledged knight

So you’re a knight, now what?

• Newbie knights usually traveled for one or two years, gaining experience by fighting in local wars.

• Sometimes, knights would take part in tournaments.– Combined recreation and entertainment with real

combat training.• When not fighting in tournaments, it was time

to defend the castle.

The Literature of Chivalry• Literature downplayed the real brutality of chivalry.– Can you think of any modern-day examples of this?

• Epic poems were written, describing a knight’s heroic adventures

• Troubadours, or traveling poet-musicians, composed songs and poems about knights.– Sang about the joys and sorrows of love.– Sang about a knight’s love of his lady

Women in the Feudal System• Women were powerless in feudal society.– They were thought of as inferior to men• A view generally accepted because of the church

• Noble women could inherit an estate from her husband.– She could also send knights to war. And at times they

played a key role in defending the castle.– Their lives were usually limited to the castle.

• Peasant women performed endless labor around the house and in the fields.– Young peasant girls learned household skills, and

received no formal education.

Your Assignment!• You will become a member of medieval feudal society.– You can be a serf, knight, lord, vassal, or maiden

• You will be writing a letter to another member of medieval feudal society.– You can write to someone who holds the same position

as you, someone above you, or someone below you.• You can write about your life, your journey, a battle you

fought in, a love letter, a request, a complaint, or a thank you letter.

• Your letter should be at least 6 sentences long, and include at least three descriptions of your feudal life.