5.1 Feudal system/ Lords and Vassals

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

 The Time of monks and knights

 

Feudalism and the Manorial system

After this lesson you are able to explain:

- How medieval society was divided in 3 estates

- How the king divided power to rule his land

- How the people on a manor worked and lived

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The three estates (de drie standen)

Estate : a group to which you belonged from birth.

There were 3 estates:

1st estate: CLERGY (geestelijkheid)

•           who? everybody who worked for the Catholic Church
•           for example:  monks, priests, bishops, the pope
•           task: PRAY for the people, copy books, make beer.

2nd estate: NOBILITY (de adel)

•           who? rich land owners
•           for example:  a count (graaf), a duke (hertog), the                 king
•           task: PROTECT the people, fight in king's army

3rd estate: PEASANTS (de boeren)

•           who? everybody else
•           for example:  peasants (90%), craftsmen, soldiers,
•           task: WORK (mainly provide all the food)

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

FIEF (LAND)

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

FIEF (LAND)

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

PEASANTS / SERFS

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

PEASANTS / SERFS

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

PROTECTION

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

PEASANTS / SERFS

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

PROTECTION

FOOD & SERVICES

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

Free PEASANTS / SERFS

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

PROTECTION

FOOD & SERVICES

PROTECTION / MILITARY SERVICE

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

MONARCH

(KING/EMPEROR)

NOBLES

(DUKE, COUNT)

KNIGHTS / LOWER NOBLES

PEASANTS / SERFS

FIEF (LAND)

LEASE OUT PART

 OF THEIR FIEF

PROTECTION

FOOD & SERVICES

LOYALTY /  MILITARY SERVICE

LOYALTY / ADVISE / MILITARY SUPPORT / MONEY

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

In the Feudal System:

• The nobles became the king's VASSALS (= leenmannen)
• The knights became the nobles' vassals
• The person above you was your LORD
• Eventually, from the bottom upwards, everybody was LOYAL to the monarch (king) 

A

A

Feudal System

Manor System

The Manor System:

• = the bottom part of the Feudal pyramid.
• = a deal between the SERFS and their LORD

• The Manor = the land on which the lord and the serfs lived.
• In short: the serfs can use the lord's land and must work for him in exchange for protection

manor house

The place where the lord lived and from where he ruled the village. 

Many times the manor was fortified by walls. Sometimes the manor was built on top of a small hill and surrounded by a palissade. 

The manor farm consisted of the manor (= fortified farmhouse / castle) + some land with orchards, farming fields and work places around it. 

mill

The mill was where people grounded wheat and grain. 

It was owned by the lord.

Serf peasants could use the mill to grind their grain, but of course they had to pay the lord for this. The payment was not money, but a percentage of the produce of the peasant.

farm

The houses the peasants (= farmers) lived in were not as nice as the manor house. They were thatched roofed

The palissade surrounds the manor farm. If the domain is attacked the peasants can find shelter within the walls of the manor farm.

Peasants worked on farm land for the lord in exchange for protection and land.

church

The church is where holy events took place (weddings, sermons, funerals). The church is also where the sick would be taken care of.

Sometimes the lord used this place to speak justice. He could hand out punishments to criminals.

A Shepard worked with the livestock in the fields. This would help produce food and cloth for the village

orchard

the manor's orchard. 

servile duties

This meant that serfs needed to work for the lord two or three days a week. They worked the lord's fields, or built and repaired his palissade.

The Manor

A. where the lord lives

B. Domain: where the peasants live

PEASANTS & SERFS

They are both farmers. 

The difference:

• Peasants are free farmers and have their own farmland. But they must pay taxes to their lord
• Serfs are not-free farmers. They are bound to the lord's land must work for the lord in exchange for protection

The manor system:

a deal between the lord and his serfs

Which Typical Aspect is shown in the picture?

1. manorial system and serfs
2. feudalism
3. agricultural Revolution
4. rise of citizenry and independent cities

What does this schematic
represent?

1. the 3 Estates
2. the Feudal System
3. the Manorial System
4. a social pyramid

What does this schematic
represent?

1. the 3 Estates
2. the Feudal System
3. the Manorial System
4. the Guild system

Which statements are correct?

I. In the feudal system vassals promised
military aid to the king
II. The manorial system is named after the peasants who
worked on the lord's domain

1. I + II are correct
2. I + II are incorrect
3. I is correct and II is incorrect
4. I is incorrect and II is correct