Feudal System and the Medieval Ages

Feudalism

By High Middle Ages (1100 C.E.), this system provided people with protection and safety from invaders by establishing a stable social order.

Knights

Soldiers first on foot then later on horseback in which they were to follow the code of chivalry. They were expected to show loyalty and service to their 3 masters: Feudal Lord, Heavenly lord and chosen Lady. When training, they were first page then squire and then, at age 21, they were dubbed knight.

Interdependence

When one helps another in exchange for something the other has and provides it for the help the one gives; they depend on each other. For example, the knight provides loyalty and service for land from the Lord.

Manor

A Large estate, farmland and villages, held by a lord but technically owned by a monarch.

Battle of Hastings

A battle in which William, the duke of Normandy, fought for the throne of England against King Harold. At the end of the fight, William was crowned king on Christmas day.

Divine Right to Rule

A belief in which god had given those, such as monarch, the right to rule. This belief made rebellions uncommon during the middle ages because people thought the monarch were chosen by god to rule.

Code of Chivalry

A complex set of Ideals that demanded a knight fight bravely of the masters known as his heavenly lord, feudal lord, and lady.(this code arouse by the 1100's)

William the Conqueror

A duke of Normandy, in France, believed the crown of England should have gone to him instead of King Harold. So he invaded England to claim his rightfully throne, succeeding his goal.

Fief

A land grant by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.

Nobles(Lords/Ladies)

A person of high ranking by birth or title; they were the vassals of the Monarchs who provided knights and soldiers. They often grew very powerful owning large estates or manors.

Monarchs

A ruler, such as a king or queen, in theory, had all the land to himself. They believed in the divine right to rule (god had give them the right to rule).

Siege Tower

A siege weapon that could access the castles' top walls by lowering a platform like a drawbridge. It could support soldiers and weapons.

Trebuchet

A siege weapon used to propel large objects over castles' walls such as large rocks, diseased cows, dead horses etc. Worked like a slingshot hurling objects over 980 feet.

Social Pyramid

A social structure in the shape of a pyramid, with levels representing classes of different ranks/status.

Hierarchy

A system of organizing people into ranks with those at a higher rank having more power and privileges

Page

A young Noble sent off to another castle to learn courtly manners, war strategies, and sword fighting; training for knight.

Squire

A young noble known as a page, at around age 14, was ranked squire. The squire, training to grow up into a knight, acts as a servant of a knight.

Vassal

Anyone who receives land/position in return for loyalty and service Ex: the lord was a vassal to the monarch.

Discuss the Accomplishments of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne unified all the Christian lands in Europe into one empire. Encouraged education and scholarship ,making his court a center of culture. He ruled for over 40 years (768 to 814) and his empire survived many barbarian attacks.

Homage

Formal oath by which a vassal declared himself to be the vassal of his lord, owing him loyalty and service.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the feudal structure.

It had an organized form of protection and safety to the people. Everyone's basic needs where met such as food or protection. The people had a role to follow and knew their responsibilities. The system of transferring power was organized (by birth and family). There was no unemployment and there was a great amount of order.

Identify the groups within the European feudal structure and describe their roles/purpose

Monarchs/Kings or Queens- Top of structure, they gave fiefs to their vassals(lords/nobles) in return for soldiers in times of war. Feudal Lords and Ladies- Second to top, they gave land to their vassals (knights) in return for loyalty and service. Knights- Middle of the feudal structure, they were granted land for their service and loyalty; vassal of the lords. Peasants/Serfs-Bottom of Feudal structure, they were given protection for their labor and farming. (90% of population)

Motte and Bailey

The Motte was the strongest part of a castle in which it was built on a hilltop. The Bailey was a lower enclosed court where most people lived in. The Motter and Bailey were connected by a wall linked path.

Analyze the relationship between the difference groups within the feudal structure.

The monarchs had little say in the Feudal structure they were more like figure heads. While the feudal lords or noble had, actually, the most power. They controlled the land and the people living on it as well as the service of the knights. Who they had to be loyal and serve their lords. The peasants/Serfs on the other hand had absolutely no say at all the the feudal structure they just worked hard labor for their entire lives.

Charlemagne

The most important leader of the Franks, he ruled for over 40 years from 768 to 814. Documents say the he was very tall exceeding 6 feet. He has achieved many accomplishments such as unifying much of Europe's Christian lands, he built an empire, encouraged education and scholarship; making his court a center of culture, and he kept his empire together through many barbarian attacks.

Describe the purpose and structure of Medieval castles.

The purpose of the Medieval castles was provide protection and fortification as well as to serve as a home for lords. It also showed status and it was one of the most important weapons in military technology. It had moats, strong walls, gates as well as a motte and bailey. It had an inner ward and a drawbridge as well as many other structures.

Describe the significance of the battle of Hastings.

There was a great significance of the battle of Hastings. English landowners lost their land as it was distributed to the Normans. The government was replaced by the Norman government (feudalism). English was not spoken by the the English royalty or nobility until the 14 century. By then a new language known as Middle English emerged having aspects of germane, native English and Norman French.

Peasants/Serfs

They were part of the lower class in which they worked for protection and to live on the lords land. Peasants were free and they only had to pay the lands' rent. The Serfs, however, were unfree and they could not leave the lord's estate.