Feudalism and Guilds

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Feudalism and Guilds

• Thursday, 1/29/2009

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Feudalism
A political, economic, and social system based on
loyalty and military service.
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Feudal Ties

• Relationship of obligation and mutual service
  between vassals and lords.
• A vassal held his land, or fief, as a grant from
  a lord.
• When a vassal died, his heir was required to
  publicly renew his oath of faithfulness (fealty)
  to his lord (suzerain) Homage".

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Lords Obligations to the Vassal

• Protect the vassal.
• Give military aid.
• Guard his children.

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Vassals Life

• Attend the lord at his court, help administer
  justice, contribute
• Answer a summons to battle.
• Feed and house the lord and his company when they
  travelled across his land.

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Peasant Life

• Villages consisted of from 10-60 families living
  in rough huts on dirt floors, with no chimneys or
  windows.
• No work on Sundays or on the frequent saints'
  days
• Could go to nearby fairs and markets.

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Serf Life

• Bound to a lord for life.
• Own no property needed permission to marry.
• Could not leave the land w/o lord's permission
  unless he chose to run away.
• If he ran to a town and managed to stay there for
  a year and a day, he was a free man.
• Serfs rights
• Could not be displaced if the manor changed
  hands.
• Could not be required to fight
• Entitled to the protection of the lord.

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Resources

• www.historyteacher.net
• http//www.britainexpress.com/History/Feudalism_an
  d_Medieval_life.htm