Feudal Society Political Structure

1
Feudal SocietyPolitical Structure
2
What is feudalism?

• A political and economic system based on the
  ownership of land in exchange for military
  service.

3
Why was feudalism necessary during the Middle
Ages?

• It helped define everyones role in society and
  also offered a system of protection for each
  kingdom.

4
Relationship Between Lords and Vassals

• The relationship between lords and vassals made
  up a big part of the political and social
  structure of the feudal system
  
• Vassals (knights) had certain duties to perform
  for the lord
• All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.
• Vassal anyone that served their king

5
What is a Knight?

• Almost all nobles were knights
• Training began at age 7 or 8, as a page, under
  the guidance of the lady of the manor
• Became squires at age 15 and were trained by
  other knights
• Those deemed worthy were dubbed knights

6
Workers on the Manor

• Peasants/freemen- skilled workers who paid rent
  and could leave the manor whenever they wished.
  (They usually had a skill needed by others on the
  manor.)
• Serfs workers bound to the land by contract
  with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they
  where the nobles property.)

7
Medieval Times
The Orders of Society Society was compared to a
human body. In this case the Kings body. His
feet Peasants/Serfs supported society by their
hard and dirty work His arms Knights Strong
fighting men to defend the society His
Conscience Clergy Priests, monks and nuns
the people that spent their lives preaching and
praying His Head King at the head of society.
Control of the actions of its arms and feet
guided by its conscience.
8
CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
SERFS AND FREEMEN
9
CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
10
CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
POWERFUL NOBLES
LAND AND PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
11
CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER
KING
LAND
LOYALTY AND SERVICE
POWERFUL NOBLES
LAND AND PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND FREEMEN
12
REVIEW
Lets see how much you remember!

1. Everyone owed loyalty to the ________
2. _______ were really the most powerful. They got
   _______ from the king.
3. Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________ _________
   in return for land
4. _______ were bound to the land. They worked in
   return for ____________.
5. __________ were skilled workers. They paid rent
   to the ______ and were free to move if they
   wanted to.

13
Check Your Answers

1. Everyone owed loyalty to the king.
2. Nobles were really the most powerful. They got
   land from the king.
3. Lesser nobles (knights) gave military service in
   return for land.
4. Serfs were bound to the land. They worked in
   return for protection.
5. Peasants were skilled workers. They paid rent to
   the nobles and were free to move if they wanted
   to.

14
THE END
HISTORY NOTES