5.5 Feudalism and the Manorial system

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

5.5: Feudalism and the Manorial system 

Goals

1. The student should be able to explain how the Feudal system worked
   
2. The student should be able to explain how the Manorial system worked
   
3. The student should be able to give three differences between the feudal en the manorial system

The Feudal system: background information

• In the 8th century, Frankish kings realized it was too difficult to rule the Frankish kingdom on their own. They needed help.
  
• However, since they didn’t have a lot of money, they needed to find another way to “hire” people → to use the land that they owned.

1: 3rd

2: Egypt

3: Desert

4: Hermits

5: Monasteries

6: Temptations 

The Feudal system: how it worked 

The King (lord):

• Would give areas of land as a fief * to his nobles (vassals)
• Fief means that the king still owned the land, the nobles borrowed it. If the noble died or they were not loyal anymore, the king could take the land back.

In return:

The Nobles (vassals):

• Had to pledge his fealty to the lord: he had to stay loyal to him, give him advice and provide military support.
  
• They made sure the people on "their" land followed the law

Homework

Do: 1, 2A, 3, 6  of paragraph 5.5

The Manorial system: background information 

• Society had become an agricultural society after the fall of the W.R.E. Most people become farmers again.
• It became less safe in Europe, because there were more wars. The Roman army was not there to protect the people anymore.
• Poor farmers needed to find someone that could protect them.

The Manorial system: how it works  

A landowner (wealthy farmer, a vassal, a lord, a bishop)

• Would give protection and a piece of land to farm on
  

In return

The serfs (poor farmers)

• Were bound to the manor and had to work on the fields of the landowner. 
• They paid rent and had to perform certain services for the landowner

A manor

Homework

Do: 7, 9 en 11  of paragraph 5.5

Differences between the Feudal system and the manorial system 

Feudal system	Manorial system
On a large scale (The Frankish Empire)	Small scale (on one Manor)
A political system (how the country is governed)	A socioeconomic system (how people live and work)
An agreement between a King (lord) and his Noble (vassal)	An agreement between a landowner and his serf