Feudalism and the Manorial System. Feudalism The social and political structure of the Middle Ages characterized by the ownership of the land.

Feudalism and the Manorial System

Feudalism

• The social and political structure of the Middle Ages characterized by the ownership of the land.

• Feudalism refers to a set of distinct social and political institutions, defined by free contract, that established the relationship between two freemen of differing social station, a lord and a vassal of lower rank

Structure• The lord owned the land• He granted land (a fief), but not the

ownership, to a lesser noble (a vassal)• The vassal, in turn, could grant some

of his holdings to another lesser noble (a knight)

• On the bottom of the scale were the serfs who worked the land for a share of the crop

Feudal Obligations

• Premogeniture – the system of inheritance of a fief from father to son

• The vassal is always obligated to the lord

Military Service

• The vassal owed his lord loyalty or, in its feudal term, fealty – he had to render aid and counsel, or material and moral help to his lord

• Perform military service, and bring a number of men and equipment

Payment to the lord

• Ransoming of the lord• Knighting of the lord’s eldest son• Marriage of the lord’s eldest daughter• Lords’ own departure on crusades

Lord’s obligations to vassal

• Protection and maintenance• Military and material support• Usual form of payment was in land

Feudal Justice

• Trial by battle• Compurgation, or oath taking,• Trial by ordeal

Manorial system

• System comes from the large farming estates that included the manor house, cultivated lands, woodlands, fields, and villages

• Ridged class structure (nobles and serfs)

• Manors were self-sufficient

Three field method

• Rotated crops between three fields• One was always left fallow

By the Lord before whom this sanctuary is holy, I will to N. be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him, on condition that he will hold to me as I shall deserve it, and that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and chose his will.