A Deeper Look at Feudalism

1. A Deeper Look at Feudalism PowerPoint #2

2. Monarchs • Top of the Feudal Society • Kings – Queens • Called lords – expected keep order and provide protection • Believed God had given them the right to rule • Power of the monarch varied greatly

3. Few had the wealth to keep their own army • Relied on nobles to provide knights and soldiers

4. Nobles • Some very powerful and governed the fiefs as independent states • Monarch became a figurehead –had little power

5. Lords and Ladies • Members of nobility – highest ranking • Most lived in manors- some had more than one – lived in each for a few months out of the year

6. Manors • Main house – many people lived in the main house with the lord’s family • Built of wood or stone • Surrounded by out buildings, gardens and stables • Protected by high walls and sometimes a moat • Manor house was center of community

7. When trouble occurred villagers entered the main house for protection • Served as a place of court • Special celebrations were held there – Christmas – harvest celebrations

8. Castles • Home for highest ranking nobles • Protection- strong walls, gates • Large size and central location made castles a strong visible reminder of the hierarchy – and barriers between classes

9. Design of Castles • Earliest castles made of wood – later stone • Surrounded by high fences • Strongest part – motte – built on the hilltop • A walled path linked motte to a lower court – bailey – most people lived • Castles later built of stone to withstand attacks of flaming arrows

10. Became more elaborate • Tall towers- look out across the land • Main castle • Storerooms • library • dining hall • bedrooms for guests • Lord and lady’s quarters

11. Responsibilities of Lord • Manage and defend land and those who worked it • Appointed officials to make sure villagers carried out their duties • Farm the land • Pay rent – form of crops

12. Acted as judges in courts – fined and punished those who broke laws • Some held posts in the king’s government • Fought for higher-ranking lords/ supplied them with soldiers

13. Responsibilities of Ladies • In theory only men were a part of the feudal relationship • Some women did hold fiefs and inherit land • Only duty land owning women did not perform was fighting • Ran estates • Sat as judges in court • Sent knights to fight

14. Non-land owning ladies • Raising and training children own and other noble’s children • Overseeing households – some had hundreds of people • Priests • Master hunters • Pages and squires (knights in training) • Cooks • Servants

15. Artists • Craftspeople • Grooms • Musicians • Jesters

16. Leisure time • Hunting • Hawking • Feasting • Dancing • Board games • Reading • Ladies – embroidery – decorative sewing

17. Hardships on Manor • Cold and gloomy – lit by candle – warmed by open fire • Little to no privacy • Fleas and lice infected all buildings • People bathed only once a week if that • Clothes were not washed daily • Disease • Ever-present danger of war

18. Knights • Mounted soldiers • Had to have some wealth • Suit of armor and horse very costly • Vassals of more powerful lords

19. Becoming a knight • Many years of training • Started as a page – or servant • At age 7 left home and went to live at the castle – often a relative • Learned how to ride a horse • Received religious instruction from priest • Spent much of initial time with ladies – learning to sing, dance, compose harp

20. After 7 years as a page, became a squire • Spent most of time with a lord • Polished armor, shield and lance • Care for horses • Waiting on him at mealtime – carrying water, carving meat,, filing empty cup • Trained to be a warrior – fight with lance and sword

21. Use a battle-ax and a mace • Practiced fighting • Went to real battles • dress the lord • Follow him to battle • Care for him if lord was injuried

22. In early 20s became a knight • Complex religious event • Spent the night before in prayer • Bathed in the morning • Put on a long white tunic or shirt to show purity • During ceremony – knelt before lord and said vows • Lord drew sword and touched the soldier on each shoulder and knighted him

23. Chivalry • Strong code of behavior • Being a knight was a way of life • Means horse • Expected to be • loyal to church and lord • Just and fair • Protect the helpless • Respect women

24. Responsibilities of Knight • Jousts • Two armed knights on horseback gallop toward each other with lances – try to unseat opponent from horse • Done as sport, exercise, or serious battle • Tournaments • Team of knights in one-on-one battle

25. Knighthood • Lasted until about the 17th century • Gunpowder and cannons changed warfare • Knights fighting one on one was no longer effective

26. Armor • Heavy suits of metal • In the 11th century – made of metal rings linked together • 14th century – plate armor – better protection

27. Peasants • Most of population • Worked the land • Freed the lords and knights to prepare for war • Two categories of peasants – free or un-free • Free – rented land from lord and only owed rent

28. Serfs • Un-free peasants • Farmed the lord’s land • Could not leave – owned by lord • Received a small plot of land to farm for themselves

29. Daily Life • Raised crops • Tended livestock • Worked as • Carpenters • Shoemakers • Smiths- metal workers • Other skilled workers

30. Peasant woman • Worked the fields • Cared for children and homes

31. Requirements of Peasants • Yearly payment – head money – fix amount per person • Some demanded a tallage whenever they needed money • Women married – she, father, or husband had to pay fee called merchet • Grind their grain in lords mill – lord kept any amount he wanted • Serfs found this so hateful that they hid small hand mills in their houses

32. Peasant homes • Small home • One or two rooms • Made of wooden strips covered with straw or mud • Little furniture • Fire in middle of room with no chimney • Animals were sometimes housed in homes

33. Peasant meals • Vegetables • Pork • Dark course bread make of wheat, rye, or oatmeal • Winter – ate meat or fish preserved in salt • Herbs were used to disguise the taste of meat that was no longer fresh