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Exploring the social and political structure of Medieval Europe.
Imagine a world with no supermarkets, no police, and no central government. How would you get food to eat or stay safe from invaders? In Medieval Europe, the answer was a life-or-death deal called Feudalism.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe became a dangerous place. To create order, society organized into a strict hierarchy shaped like a pyramid. At the very top was the King, who technically owned all the land. Below him were Lords (powerful nobles) and Knights (trained warriors). At the bottom lived the Peasants and Serfs, who made up approximately of the population. Unlike today, you couldn't 'level up' your social status; you were usually born into your rank and stayed there for life. This structure ensured that everyone had a specific role to play in defending the kingdom.
Quick Check
Which group made up the vast majority of the population in the feudal system?
Answer
Peasants and Serfs (roughly 90% of the population).
Feudalism was based on a system of mutual obligations—essentially a series of 'if-then' deals. A Lord would grant a piece of land, called a fief, to a subordinate known as a vassal. In exchange for this land, the vassal promised loyalty and military service (usually 40 days a year). This relationship was sealed with a formal ceremony. The Lord provided protection and land, while the vassal provided the 'muscle' to defend the Lord's interests. This created a web of personal loyalties that held the kingdom together without the need for a large central government.
Think of the feudal contract as a simple equation: 1. The Lord's Input: Gives 500 acres of land () and a promise of safety. 2. The Vassal's Output: Provides 10 armed knights for the King's army and swears an oath of fealty (loyalty). 3. Result: The Lord gets an army; the Vassal gets a home and income from the land.
Quick Check
What was the name of the land grant given by a lord to a vassal?
Answer
A fief.
While Feudalism was the political system, Manorialism was the economic system. The Manor was the Lord's estate, and it had to be self-sufficient because trade was dangerous and rare. A typical manor included the Lord's castle or manor house, a church, a mill, and a village where peasants lived. Peasants worked the land using the three-field system: one field for spring crops, one for autumn crops, and one left fallow (empty) to regain nutrients. Most peasants were serfs, meaning they were legally 'bound to the land.' They weren't slaves, but they couldn't leave the manor without the Lord's permission.
To prevent the soil from wearing out, farmers used a rotation system. Imagine a manor with 300 acres: 1. Field A: Planted with Wheat (Autumn). 2. Field B: Planted with Peas/Beans (Spring). 3. Field C: Left empty ( crops) to rest. Each year, the crops would rotate: . This increased food production and kept the population from starving.
A serf's life was a calculation of survival. 1. The Work: A serf might work 3 days a week on the 'demesne' (the Lord's personal fields) and 3 days on their own small plot. 2. The Tax: The serf had to give a portion of their own grain to the Lord as 'rent' and a tithe (10% tax) to the Church. 3. The Trade-off: In exchange for this heavy labor, the serf received the right to farm some land and, most importantly, the right to flee inside the castle walls if Vikings or rival lords attacked.
In the feudal hierarchy, who was directly below the King and provided him with knights?
What does it mean for a manor to be 'self-sufficient'?
Serfs were considered slaves and could be bought and sold individually away from the land.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to sketch the feudal pyramid from memory and list the specific 'deal' made between a Lord and a Vassal.
Practice Activity
Imagine you are a serf. Write a short journal entry describing your daily chores and why you are willing to give up your grain to the Lord.