Feudalism in Europe

Charlemagne’s empire was split among his 3 grandsons

• Between 800-1000 Europe was besieged with invasions – Muslims in the south in Italy, Magyars from southern Russia in the east, and from the north the Vikings

• The Vikings, a Germanic people, came roaring out of Scandinavia raiding throughout Europe

for almost 300 years beginning in 790 CE.

• Vikings traveled by water – their largest ships could hold 300 men and up to 72 oars

• Although the ships weighed about 20 tons when loaded, they could travel in just 3 feet of water

They traveled through Europe and Russia.

• Vikings were also traders, farmers, and explorers.

• A Viking named Leif Ericson probably reached N. America around 1000 ce

• As Vikings converted to Christianity the problem with their boat terrorism diminished and faded away.

Magyars & Muslims

• The Magyars were related to the Huns. • Basically nomadic – lived on their horses,

they had a thriving business selling slaves.• The Muslims attacked thru Spain into

France and as far inland as Switzerland

SocialOrder

• The agreement between Charles the Bald & Rollo ushered in the system called Feudalism which was based upon mutual obligations

• Similar to the system used in China almost 2,000 years before.

• Lord – the landowner

• Fief – the land that is granted

• Vassal – The person receiving the fief

• The hierarchy of the social classes began with King/Queen, the church officials & nobility, Knights, or mounted warriors and then peasants

• Most peasants were serfs, peasants who could not legally leave the land where they were born.

• They were not slaves though. They could not be sold – the only wealth the lord could get from them is the work they provided on the land.

• The lord’s estate was called the manor

• Serfs & peasants, for protection, were required to work the land (usually 4-5 days a week).

• In return they received a house (or hut), and a communal plot of land the other serfs would tend to for their own food.

• Manors came in many shapes & sizes. This is a simple one in England (it was the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton)

• The manor was self-sufficient. Besides the fields and the village, there would be a mill, blacksmith, church

• Manor life did have drawbacks for the peasant. They had to pay a tax to get their grain ground, to get married, and the tithe, which is a church tax each person had to pay (comes from the old English word for tenth)

The Age of Chivalry

• Charles Martel had observed that Muslim

horsemen often turned the tide of battle so he

arranged his own cavalry of armored

horsemen• Saddles and stirrups

which came from Asia and India helped these riders keep their place

on the horse.• Defense of one’s land

would lead to the feudal system

• Not only were knights expected to show courage on the battlefield but loyalty to the lord.

• By the 1100’s, a complex set of ideals called Chivalry was designed.

• The knight had 3 masters: his feudal lord, his Lord God, and his chosen lady

• The best place to train as a knight was at a The best place to train as a knight was at a tournamenttournament where knights took part in mock where knights took part in mock

battles.battles.

• By the 1100’s, stone castles dominated much of the countryside throughout western Europe. Trying to

capture one was a deadly affair

• Siege weapons, like the Trebuchet were developed to collapse the walls of the castle

Literature

• Epic stories were told of legendary figures.

• The song of Roland was a famous poem about French soldiers who die in battle during the reign of Charlemagne

• Conflict was created by a knight’s duty to his lord and to his lady

• Poet musicians were called

Troubadours who lived at court.

• They would send roving minstrels

to carry their songs to other

courts.• Their songs would

tell of love, or even about news

of a battle• The mother of

Richard the Lionhearted and

King John, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was popular and many

troubadours would come to her

court to sing.

The role of The role of WomenWomen

• The church viewed women as inferior to men.

• But the romantic ideals put her on a pedestal

• During the Middle Ages the role of women decreased and was limited to the home and convent.

• A notable exception was Eleanor, seen here with Henry II