The social, political, and economic systems of the middle ages.

The social, political, and economic The social, political, and economic systems of the middle ages.systems of the middle ages.

Barbarian Invasions cause theFall of the Western Roman Empire

Rise ofNewKingdoms/States that are not united (Charlemagne’s empire was short-lived)

New Kingdoms are unable to protect themselves fromBarbarianInvasions, causing a need for localized Protection

TheRise of Feudalism in Europe

The Middle Ages or Medieval Period

( 500 CE -1500 CE.)

Vikings, Muslims and Magyars Invasion Map

A political and social system of the middle

ages based upon relationships of mutual obligations.

It was a system of extreme political decentralization where public power was held and exercised in private hands.

This system was derived as a result of no strong central government. (There were still kings they were just weak!)

Feudalism

This system was based upon the exchange of

land for protection. A grant of land was called a fief. The individual who granted the land is known

as a lord and the individual who receives the land is known as a vassal.

Feudalism Continued!

Commendation Ceremony

Ceremony began with the act of homage (agreement to provide military service in return for land)

This officially entered the two parties in a feudal relationship.

This was followed by an oath of fidelity.

The Feudal Pyramid

Kings were lords Upper nobility and clergy could be lords and

vassals Lesser nobility (knights) were vassals

Feudalism continued

Feudalism continued The reason

Feudalism worked is because everyone benefited from this system

Fiefs were typically broken up into large farming estates known as manors

Typically a knight was the lord of the individual manor

While Feudalism provided a political and social

system, Manorialism was the economic system of this time.

Economic System- the means of producing, distributing, and consuming goods

Manorialism—economic agricultural system by which the lord of the manor relied upon the labor of peasants who worked his estate or fief.

Manorialism

Manorialism got its name from the

manor or large farming estates that fiefs were broken into.

There was little to no trade during this time because it was unsafe to leave one’s manor.

As a result people became self-sufficient.

Manorialism Continued

Everything that was needed was produced on

one’s manor. Food, clothing, and shelter were all produced

on the manner. The land on the manor was shared by a lord

and several peasant families.

Manorialism continued

The lord kept 1/3 of the land for himself

which was known as his domain. The peasants/serfs farmed the

remaining 2/3 of the land. In return for being allowed to work the

land the peasants gave the lord some of their crops, farmed his land, and also paid taxes.

Manorialism continued

Manors were comprised of a manor

house (where the lord lived), cultivated lands, woodlands (to hunt), pastures (for cattle), fields, a village, a church, a priests house, a mill (used to grind grains into flower, and an oven.

Ideally were located along stream or river to provide power for the mill.

The Composition of a Manor

Manorialism Continued

They used an early form of crop rotation on manors.

The manor was divided into 3 fields. Only 2 were planted at a time and the third lay fallow to regain its fertiltiy.