FEUDALISM IN ENGLAND

FEUDALISMO Feudalism in the middle ages was a

social, political and religious structure, based on exchange of land for military service or cash rent.

O Norman king, William the Conqueror defeated the English Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. Since then, King William established feudalism in England as he needed the support of the Nobles and Knights.

FEUDALISM HIERARCHYKING

• Ruled by “Devine Right” and managed/used land as they wished.

• Granted land to Nobles and Knights in return for their military services

LORDS

Person granted the use of land, in return

for “loyalty to the King” and rendering homage, fealty, and

usually military service.

KNIGHTS

Warrior who owed military service to his lord in exchange for payment of money, titles, and/or fief (land). SERF

S

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Relationship Between Lords & Vassals (Knights)

The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system

Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord

All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

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What is a Knight (Vassal)?

O Almost all nobles were knights

O Training began at age 7, as a page, under the guidance of the lady of the manor

O Became squires at age 15 and were trained by other knights

O Those deemed worthy were “dubbed” knights

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Workers on the ManorO There were two groups of peasant workers

on the manor

O Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.)

O Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they where the noble’s property.)

Who Does The Most Work In The Feudal System??

Serfs

SERFSO Bound to the manor and could not leave it or

marry without permission from manor lord.

O Did all the work on the manor farm: worked the fields, cared for the livestock etc.

O Had small plots of land they could work for themselves; sometimes a serf saved enough money to buy his freedom and became a freeman.

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Serfs

SERF RIGHTSIn return for their labour,;

• Their Manor Lords are obliged to make land or some other means of livelihood available to them.

• Protection from external harm by the Manor Lords.

Marx says, Then begins an epoch of social revolution (the French Revolution of 1789, the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, etc.) since the social and political organization of feudal society (or the property relations of feudalism) is preventing the development of the capitalists' productive forces

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