Chapter 8: The Rise of Europe Section 2 Feudalism and the Manor Economy.

Chapter 8: The Rise of Europe

Section 2

Feudalism and the Manor Economy

The Emergence of Feudalism

Feudalism: a new political & social system that governed medieval lifeLoosely organized system of rule --- powerful lords divided land among lesser lords (vassals)In return: vassals pledged loyalty and service to greater lords

Feudal contract: exchange of pledges between lord and vassal established by custom/traditionUnwrittenBlade of grass or handful of earth was symbolic of a binding contract

Feudal contract: obligations of an upper lord (Duke)

Granted vassal (Earl) a fief – estate/tract of land

Peasants & towns/buildings on the land

Promise of protection in times of war

Guardian to vassal’s children if vassal died during warfare

Feudal contract: obligations of a vassal

Pledged loyalty

Provided lord with approx. 40 days of military service a year

Provided payments (food, goods, etc.) and sometimes advice

Payments made during knighthood of a lord’s son or marriage of a lord’s daughter

Structured society ---Complex system

F e u da l S oc ie ty

P e a san ts & T o w n sp e o p le

V a ssa lK n ig h t

V a ssa l (le sse r lo rd )

U p p e r lo rdD u ke

P e a san ts & T o w n sp e o p le

V a ssa lK n ig h t

V a ssa l (le sse r lo rd )

U p p e r lo rdC o u n t

M o n a rch

French Nobility Titles

Duc: possessor of a duchyMarquis: possessor of a marquesate Comte: possessor of a countyVicomte: possessor of a viscountyBaron: possessor of a baronyPrince: possessor of a principalitySeigneur: title of “sir” followed by name of fief

English Titles

Duke: comes from Latin Dux or leaderMarquess: comes from French Marquis/form of marche or English borders with Wales and ScotlandEarl: from Anglo-Saxon eorl or military leaderViscount: from Latin vicecomes or vice-countBaron: from Germanic baro or freemanBaronet: a lesser baronKnight: from Anglo-Saxon cniht or boy/youth/servant

The World of Nobles: Knighthood

_________was a way of lifeRival lords battled for powerMany boys were trained to be knights (mounted warriors) – began during time of CharlemagneSent to castle of his father’s lord for strict training (Page-Squire-Knighthood)1100s: tournaments (mock battles) came into fashion – were dangerous – captured knights often held for ransom

Castles

Fortified homes built by powerful lords to withstand attack

Protected by high walls, a moat, drawbridges, towers, a keep, etc.

Wars often centered on seizing castles.

Noblewomen

Acted as “lady of the manor” while husband was off fightingSupervised vassals, managed household, spun wool into thread, performed agricultural & medical tasksOnly a few privileged women took a hand in politics or learned to read and write.Feudal system restricted women’s rights to inherit land (passed to eldest son) – women did receive land as part of their dowry, a gift of property or money passed to her husband.Marriages were arranged.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204)“The Grandmother of Europe”Married King Louis VII of France at age 15 – had 2 daughters – marriage was annulledWent on the 2nd CrusadeMarried King Henry II of England – gave birth to 5 sons & 3 daughters Failed in an attempt (with 2 of her sons) to overthrow Henry & spent 15 years in prisonSon Richard the Lionheart became King of England & freed her from prison

ChivalryChivalry was a code of conduct adopted by knightsKnights required to be brave and loyal, fight fairly and treat captured knights fairlyTroubadours (wandering poets) held women on a pedestal – their love songs praised the beauty, perfection and wit of women

In your notebooks!

Read Peasants and Manor Life (pgs. 189-190)In your notebooks explain the responsibilities of a lord and peasant in the manorial systemDescribe (or sketch) the setup of a typical medieval manor.Briefly describe peasant life on the manor.