Feudal System Chapter 13 section 1
Effects of Constant Invasions and Warfare
• •Germanic invaders overrun western Roman Empire in 400s
• •Fighting disrupts trade and government; people abandon cities
• •Marks the beginning of the Middle Ages—period from 500 to 1500
The Decline of Learning
• •As cities are abandoned, level of learning declines
• •Knowledge of Greek language and culture is almost completely lost
Collapse of strong central government
• The Feudal systems starts in order to replace a strong central government
Feudalism Structures Society• • 850 to 950, feudalism
emerges—political system based on land control
• • A lord (landowner) gives fiefs (land grants) in
exchange for services • • Vassals—people who
receive fiefs—become powerful landholders
• Lord would grant the vassal land in exchange for military service.
The Feudal Pyramid• •Power in feudal
system much like a pyramid, with king at the top
• •Kings served by nobles who are served by knights; peasants at bottom
• •Knights—horsemen—defend their lord’s land in exchange for fiefs
Social Classes Are Well Defined• • Medieval feudal system
classifies people into three social groups
• - those who fight: nobles and knights
• - those who pray: monks, nuns, leaders of the Church
• - those who work: peasants• • Social class is usually
inherited; majority of people are peasants
• • Most peasants are serfs—people lawfully bound to place of birth.
• Serfs aren’t slaves, but what they produce belongs to their lord
The Lord’s Estate• •The lord’s estate, a
manor, has an economic system (manor system)
• Feudalism was a social order and the manor system was the economic arrangement that supported it.
• •Serfs and free peasants maintain the lord’s estate, give grain
• •The lord provides housing, farmland, protection from bandits
A Self-Contained World
• •Medieval manors include lord’s house, church, workshops, village
• •Manors cover a few square miles of land, are largely self-sufficient
The Harshness of Manor Life
• • Peasants pay taxes to use mill and bakery; pay a tithe to priest
• • Tithe—a church tax—is equal to one-tenth of a peasant’s income
• • Serfs live in crowded cottages with dirt floors, straw for beds
• • Daily grind of raising crops, livestock; feeding and clothing family
• • Poor diet, illness, malnutrition make life expectancy 35 years
• • Serfs generally accept their lives as part of God’s plan
What held feudalism together?
• A set of mutual obligations
• Teaching of the church• God gave them their
position in life so they should not want any different
NEXT
Knights: Warriors on Horseback
The Age of Chivalry
The Technology of Warfare Changes• Leather saddle and stirrups enable knights to handle heavy weapons • In 700s, mounted knights become most important
part of an army
SECTION
3
The Warrior’s Role in Feudal Society• By 1000s, western Europe is a battleground of
warring nobles• Feudal lords raise private armies of knights• Knights rewarded with land; provides income needed for weapons• Knights’ other activities help train them for combat
Knighthood and the Code of Chivalry The Code of Chivalry• By 1100s knights obey code of chivalry—a set of ideals on how to act• They are to protect weak and poor; serve feudal lord, God, chosen lady
A Knight’s Training• Boys begin to train for knighthood at age 7; usually
knighted at 21 • Knights gain experience in local wars and
tournaments—mock battlesBrutal Reality of Warfare• Castles are huge fortresses where lords live• Attacking armies use wide range of strategies and
weapons
SECTION
3
NEXT
The Literature of Chivalry
Epic Poetry• Epic poems recount a hero’s deeds and
adventures• The Song of Roland is about Charlemagne’s
knights fighting MuslimsLove Poems and Songs• Knights’ duties to ladies are as important as those to their lords• Troubadours—traveling poet-musicians—write and sing short verses• Most celebrated woman of the age is Eleanor of
Aquitaine (1122–1204)• Eleanor’s son, Richard the Lion-Hearted, also wrote songs and poems
SECTION
3
NEXT
Women’s Role in Feudal Society
Status of Women• According to the Church and feudal society,
women are inferior to men
Noblewomen• Can inherit land, defend castle, send knights to war
on lord’s request • Usually confined to activities of the home or conventPeasant Women• Most labor in home and field, bear children, provide for family• Poor, powerless, do household tasks at young age
SECTION
3
Changes in the Christian church Chapter 13 section 4
The Structure of the Church• •Power within Church
is organized by status; pope is supreme authority
• •Clergy—religious officials—includes bishops, priests, and others
• •Bishops supervise priests, settle Church disputes
The Law of the Church
• Popes have power over political leaders through threat of
• - excommunication—banishment from Church, denial of salvation
• - interdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services
• • Kings and emperors expected to obey pope’s commands
• Why would interdiction be a good threat?
Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII
• •Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture—kings appointing Church officials
• •Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VIII excommunicates Henry
Showdown at Canossa• • Henry goes to Canossa, Italy,
to beg Gregory for forgiveness • He was afraid for his soul• His bishops sided with the pope• And the conflict was causing
turmoil in his kingdom• • Gregory forgives Henry, but
lay investiture problem is not solved
Concordat of Worms
• •Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise in Worms, Germany
• •Compromise: pope appoints bishops, emperor can veto appointment
NEXT
The Age of Faith
Church Reform
Spiritual Revival• Starting in 900s, monasteries help bring about a
spiritual revival• Reformers help restore and expand Church power
Problems in the Church• Some Church officials marry even though the Church objects• Some officials practice simony—selling religious offices• Kings use lay investiture to appoint bishops• Reformers believe only the Church should appoint bishops
SECTION
1
John Wycliffe’s complaints*John thought that services should be conduced in English not Latin.*He also believed the church was too wealthy*The church should be poor.
NEXT
A Church Divided
The Hundred Years’ Warand the Plague
Pope and King Collide• In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII asserts authority over
France’s Philip IV• Philip has him imprisoned; pope dies soon after
Avignon and the Great Schism• In 1305, French pope is chosen; moves to
Avignon—city in France• In 1378, two popes chosen—one in Rome, one in
Avignon• Each declares the other false, causing split called
Great Schism• In 1417, Council of Constance ends schism,
by having all three popes resign and chooses Martin V as pope.
SECTION
4
NEXT
Scholars Challenge Church Authority• Englishman John Wycliffe argues Jesus is head of the Church, not pope• Wycliffe preaches against wealth and worldliness of clergy• Wycliffe inspires English translation of New Testament• Jan Hus—Bohemian professor—teaches that Bible is final authority • Hus is excommunicated, tried as a heretic, burned at stake in 1415
continued A Church Divided
SECTION
4
NEXT
The Bubonic Plague Strikes
Origins and Impact of the Plague• In 1300s, Europe suffers bubonic plague—
extremely deadly disease• Begins in Asia; spreads to Italy and other
countries over trade routes• About one-third of Europe’s population dies in the epidemic
SECTION
4
Effects of the Plague• Town populations fall, trade declines, prices rise• Some serfs leave manors for paying work• Many Jews blamed and killed; Church suffers
weakened stature
NEXT
The Hundred Years’ War
England and France• Hundred Years’ War— lasts from 1337–1453, between England and France• English king Edward III claims French throne• War marks the end of medieval society; change
in style of warfare
SECTION
4
The Longbow Changes Warfare• In 1346, English army with longbows beats much
larger French army• The English win other victories with longbows in
1356 and 1415• Victory of longbows signals end of reliance on knights
Continued . . .
NEXT
Joan of Arc• Joan of Arc—French peasant girl who believes in visions of saints• She leads French army to victory at Orléans; Charles VII crowned king• In 1430 England’s allies, the Burgundians,
capture Joan in battle• The Church condemns Joan as a witch and heretic • On May 30, 1431, she is burned at the stake
continued The Hundred Years’ War
SECTION
4
NEXT
The Impact of the Hundred Years’ War• Hundred Years’ War ends in 1453• France and England experience major changes
- rise in nationalistic feelings; king becomes national leader
- power and prestige of French monarch increases
- religious devotion and the code of chivalry crumbles• England begins period of turmoil, War of the Roses
continued The Hundred Years’ War
SECTION
4
The Magna Carta•In 1215 English nobles force King John to sign
Magna Carta
Magna Carta—limits king’s power and guarantees basic political rights•English people argue the rights are for all people, not just nobles
English Common law
• The rulings of England's royal courts of justice formed a unified body of law called English Common Law.
Parliament
• Put together by Edward the 1st to have citizens have a say in raises in taxes
• Parliament end taxation without representation.
The end of the middle ages
The Muslim Connection
• •Christian scholars read translations of Greek works made by Muslims
• •Crusaders return with Muslim knowledge of navigation, ships, weapons
The Three-Field System
• •Around 800 three-field system used—plant two
• fields, let one rest• •This produces more food and leads to
population • increase
Fairs and Trade
• •Europe sees Commercial Revolution—changes in business and trade
• •Trade fairs are held several times a year in towns
• •Trade routes open to Asia, North Africa, and Byzantine ports
Development of Guilds• • Guilds develop—organization of people in the
same occupation• • Merchant guilds begin first; they keep prices up,
provide security• • Skilled artisans, men and women, form craft
guilds• • Guilds set standards for quality, prices, wages,
working conditions• • Guilds supervise training of new members of their
craft• • The wealth of guilds influences government and
economy