World HistoryChapter 13B

Feudalism in Europe

New Invasions Trouble Western Europe

• After his death his sons and grandsons break up Charlemagne’s Empire. This weakens it considerably, and the empire is destroyed by invaders from the north

• The Vikings, Germanic people from Scandinavia, carry out raids throughout Europe

• These raids were quick and destructive. The Vikings landed, looted and burned, and swiftly put back to sea

Continued

• The Vikings were also explorers, traders, and farmers

• They explored Russia and North America• Eventually Vikings became more settled and by

1000 or so the raids ended• The Magyars and the Muslims also attacked

and raided Europe. These raids along with the Viking incursions created enormous instability throughout Europe

Viking Long Ships

Feudalism Structures Society

• The raids cause authority to become localized and centered on the great landowners in Europe

• Feudalism arises in Europe. It is a system of pledging loyalty to a lord and it is based upon the exchange of land for protection and services

Continued

1. A lord or landowner granted land called a fief

2. The man receiving a fief was called a vassal

3. Knights pledged to defend a lord’s land in exchange for a fief

4. Peasants worked the land for a vassal. 93% or more of feudal society were peasants

Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism

• The Manor was the lord’s estate• The lord provided peasants with land for housing and he

gave them protection from bandits• The manor was a self-sufficient community. They

produced all that they needed except for salt and most metal goods

• The peasants lived a horribly harsh existence. They paid heavy taxes and they were also required to pay 10% of their income to support the Church

• The whole feudal system was based on obligations that everyone owed to a lord

Feudalism

TA13C

Read Pages 364-369

Copy n& Define terms on Page 369

Copy & Answer Questions 15, 16, & 17 on Page 374