Feudalism: Obligations, Defense, and the hard day’s knight of a peasant

Feudalism: Obligations, Defense, and the hard day’s knight of a peasant Castle time!

Feudalism • Because of Viking, Maygar, and Muslim invasions, kings and emperors were too weak to maintain order • People needed protection • They looked to the wealthy lords for help

Feudalism • Feudalism- Powerful lords divided their land among lesser lords • These lesser lords were called vassals • Vassals received a fief from their lords • Fief- land under the control of a vassal • Fiefs ranged in size from a few acres to hundreds of square miles

Feudalism • Fiefs would include all towns, buildings, and peasants within the boundaries • ummm…excuse us, sire? Where is our say?

Feudalism • The Lord promised to protect his vassals • In exchange, the vassals gave money, advice, and military service • This was in an agreement known as a feudal contract

Feudalism • Aristocrats- members of the nobility • Dukes and counts had the largest land • Lords divided their land up into smaller and smaller regions • You could be both a lord and vassal at once

Feudalism • Many vassals took fiefs from many lords • This became a problem if the lords began to fight with each other • Vassals usually had a liege lord to whom they pledged their primary loyalty

Feudalism • How did it work? • CASTLES • And knights to protect them • Knight- a mounted warrior

Castles and Knights • Castles were home to not only knights and lords, but during times of war, entire villages would move within their walls • Knights underwent intense training from age of seven • Learned to fight on horseback using swords, axes, and lances • Also learned to fight on foot • In addition to battles, often took place in fake fights called tournaments • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjDPY1uCLiM&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Castles and Knights • Knights were expected to follow code of conduct known as chivalry • Had to be brave, loyal, true to their word • Had to fight fair: Would not attack another knight unless they had chance to put on armor, treat captured knights fairly • Only applied to nobles • Must also protect “weak”: peasants and noblewomen • This, in theory, gave high priority to women

Manor • The manor was the center of medieval life: it was the lord’s estate • Worked by serfs, who were peasants that could not leave the land without lord’s permission • Worked the land for lord, in return got protection and some land for their own farming • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxFjQzgkqHk

Peasants • The Peasants would work long, hard days • Entire families would work the whole day • They ate black bread, and a stew with cabbage, turnips, or onions • Rarely did they have meat • …this was for the lord

Peasants • May have fished to add variety to diet if near a river • Slept together in hut with livestock • Rarely lived past 35 Hey…umm…was that you?

Feudalism: Obligations, Defense, and the hard day’s knight of a peasant