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European Feudalism

Explore the origins and consequences of European feudalism, from Germanic invasions causing population shifts to the breakdown of centralized authority into a system of lords, vassals, knights, and serfs. Discover the roles and obligations of each social class in the feudal hierarchy, and how the feudal system shaped medieval society.

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European Feudalism

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  1. European Feudalism

  2. What lead to FEUDALISM? Germanic invaders raided the western half of the Roman Empire 1. Constant fighting • 2. Disruptions in trade • Cities no longer economic centers • 3. Downfall of cities • Governments collapsed • Nobles retreat to rural areas URBAN people move to RURAL areas

  3. consequences of population shift to rural areas • loss of common language • Germanic invaders mixed with the Romans literacy declined only way to be educated was through Catholic Church • different languages evolved from Latin • French • Spanish • breakup of unified empire • kings couldn’t defend lands • people loyal to local leaders with armies

  4. REMEMBER: the feudal system was based on rights and obligations Fief-granted land Lord-the landowner, he gave permission for people to use his land Vassal-the person using the land Manor-the lord’s estate

  5. King Nobles & Church Officials Knights Peasants Serfs

  6. King • The land legally belonged to the king

  7. Noble • Nobles granted use of land if they • Swore loyalty to king • Gave military services to king • Powerful vassal • Wealthy • Controlled Knights

  8. Noblewoman • Could inherit estates her husband • Held little property • Land passed to sons • Could send knights to war • If husband was off fighting • Military commander • Warrior • Basic education

  9. Church Official • Powerful vassal • Church was the bond among the divided social classes • Peasant families paid a tax of one-tenth of their income (tithe) to the church

  10. Knight • Nobles were always fighting each other • Needed skilled warriors to defend land • Pledged to defend land in exchanged for fiefs • Wealth from land allowed them to devote lives to war • Started training at age 7

  11. Peasant • Worked land • Cared for animals • Maintained Estate • Owed lord • Several workdays a week • Portion of grain produced • Paid high taxes to live on land • Most traveled no more than 25 miles from where they were born

  12. Peasant Women • Worked next to men in fields • Ran households and had children • Girls learned household skills

  13. Serf • People who couldn’t leave the place they were born • Not slaves • Couldn’t be bought or sold - all labor produced belonged to lord • Lord provided • Housing • Farmland • Protection from bandits • Created everything the lord needed • Most children didn’t survive till adulthood

  14. king Noble Church Official Knights Peasants/Serfs

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