The Feudal System

King

Serf

Knight / Clergy

Noble / Bishop

During the middle ages Europe was divided into huge pieces of land or kingdoms ruled by kings.

The king was rich and powerful.

He made all the laws, owned all the land, and led the country’s army.

Dangers to the KingLack of support from

your nobles

Lack of support from the church

The knights turned against you and rebelledAngry peasants armed with spades and pitchforks

Given pieces of land, called fiefs or manors, by the king in return for their loyalty and soldiers

Males were referred to as Duke, Count, Lord, Baron or Earl.Females were referred to as Duchess, Countess, Lady or Baroness.

Ruled their fiefdom like a king

Nobles led comfortable lives. They spent money on jewelry, fancy clothes, and furnishings like tapestries.

Pledged their loyalty to kings, queens or lordsFought in exchange for large plots of land and the right to rule over the peasants who lived and worked on themWore strong armor and fought on horseback with deadly weapons.Followed rules of good behavior called a Code of Chivalry.

At age 7 or 8 a boy became a page for a knight and served his master and his family.Learned how to fight with swords and hunt with falcons or hawks.The page then became a squire at fourteen. He learned how to use weapons and became a skilled horseman.The squire became a knight after years of training and practice. Any knight could grant knighthood to a squire by saying “I dub thee knight” at a special ceremony.

They were Catholic leaders in one area of the country.

Looked after all the Catholic people in the church.

Clergy ran the churches and held services among the peasants.

Taught from the Bible, which was in Latin, and most people could not read it

They farmed the land of knights, nobles and kings. In return the landowners protected them from enemy attack.Two kinds of peasants: freemen and villains

Freemen owned their own land and they paid their lord either money or food.

Villeins worked part time for the lord for food and did not own their land or have any rights or freedom.

Lived in small one or two room cottages. Many times they shared their home with the animals.

Worked sunrise to sunset either farming or caring for the livestock.

Wore coarse homespun wool or linen clothing and sometimes got hand-me downs from the knight.Their diet consisted of simple foods like dark bread, bacon or pork pies, porridge, cheese, vegetables, and eggs.

The center of the medieval community.

Provided shelter for the king, nobles, or knights, his family, and his servants. Served as protection in time of war and a safe base from the army.Center of government, trade, and education.

Like a small town.

Many small towns, villages, and farms were built around the castle.