Feudalism is a system that encompasses a social hierarchy, political structure, and economic system all in one. The basis is land.

1. Three Banners of
Feudalism

2. Rise of Feudalism
Treaty of Verdun

3. Rise of Feudalism
Treaty of Verdun
Viking Invasions Magyar Invasions Muslim Invasions
Fear & Chaos
Decentralized
Authority

4. I. Lord-Vassal Relationship
A. Only for the Nobility
B. Reciprocal Relationship
Higher Up (Lord) Lower Down (Vassal)
Gives
• land (fief)
• power/authority
• right to collect taxes
• loyalty
• military service
• taxes
Gets
• loyalty
• honor
• military protection
• land
• power/authority
• right to collect taxes

5. I. Lord-Vassal Relationship
Lord
Vassal
Lord
Vassal
Lord
Vassal

6. II. Manor System
A. Self-Sufficient Society
all economic and social needs were provided by
the manor
controlled by a lord (who is someone else’s
vassal)
source of natural resources such as
timber, mineral deposits (such as iron), agriculture

8. II. Manor System
B. Serfdom
Very restrictive: cannot leave; need permission to marry
Reciprocal relationship
Lord of the Manor Serf
Gives
• small tract of land
• protection
• all basic necessities
• labor
• pays taxes
• loyalty
• sometimes military
service
Gets
• labor
• taxes
• loyalty
• small tract of land
• protection
• all basic necessities

9. Government Order
Political Power is based on ownership of the land
The owner of the land makes the rules and laws
for the people who live on that land

10. Government Order
a serf must answer to the lord of the manor
the lord of the manor must answer to his lord
(who granted him his manor)
the higher lord must answer to the king who
controls all of the lands
Each lord had a degree of autonomy over his
land

11. Social Structure
1. monarch
considered to own all the land
2. powerful lords
dukes and counts
held the largest fiefs
3. vassals
those who pledged loyalty to a lord in exchange
for land
in some cases, a vassal to a duke or count may
also have his own vassals

12. Social Structure
4. knights
mounted soldiers
vassals to landowners
pledged loyalty and military service in exchange
for a castle to defend and pay (often times in the
form of loot from raids)
may be lords themselves
held to a code of chivalry (bravery, loyalty, and
truthfulness)

13. Social Structure
5. peasants
majority of the population
laborers
many were SERFS, peasants bound to the land
of their lord
in exchange for their labor and loyalty and a fee, a
serf received a roof over his head, access to
basic services, and protection

14. Economic System
Self-Sufficiency
1. manors are designed to provide all the needs of its
inhabitants
2. manors had:
well (for water)
blacksmith (metal working, tools and weapons)
church (and sacraments)
mill (for grinding grain)
farms
often times their were woods for hunting and timber
sometimes there were quarries for mining stone