The AGE of FEUDALISM

During the Middle Ages, most people of Western Europe lived in villages in the countryside. There were only a few towns, and they were far smaller than the busy communities that had once filled the territories of the Roman Empire.

Most people lived in the same place all their lives. Travel and communication were difficult, and trade was slow. The people of each community grew their own food and met their other needs with little or no outside help.

Most people who lived in the countryside were poor and enjoyed few pleasures. For comfort and guidance, they turned to the Roman Catholic Church. Religion played an important part in their daily lives. A church stood at the center of every town or village. Not only was the church building a place of worship, but also its courtyard was the center of local trade and community activity.

The people constantly faced the dangers of hunger, disease, and outside attack. Nobles, warriors, townspeople, and peasants fought each other over land. Still, the people wanted security and protection. But Western Europe had no central government to keep the peace. Real power had passed from kings to the local nobles. To protect their property, the nobles raised their own armies. They developed what is known as feudalism, or a division of the societies people, land, power, and money.

Feudalism lasted in Western Europe until about 1400A.D. It was, however, particularly strong during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, a part of the period known as the Middle Ages.

Under feudalism, the people of Western Europe were divided into groups. Each group had duties to perform for the other groups and for society as a whole. The first group was the clergy, or religious leaders. Their duty was to teach Christianity and to help the poor and sick. The second group was the nobles. Their duty was to govern, enforce laws, and protect the people. The third group was a small number of townspeople and the peasants, or people who farmed the land and provided services for nobles. Their duty was to work for the clergy and nobles.

Although there were more peasants and townspeople in the population, the clergy and nobles had more rights. Few people tried to reform the society or change their own standing in life. Almost everyone believed that God wanted it that way. Most people remained in the feudal groups into which they were born.

KING AND VASSAL

A vassal owed loyalty and military service to a lord. Kings, as well as nobles, were lords. Here, a king receives homage from one of his vassals. What role did peasants play in feudal government?

LORD AND VASSAL

Feudalism was based on ties of loyalty and duty among nobles. A vassal or a person who holds land from a noble and has promised to be loyal to that noble. In return, the lord protected the vassal.

The tie between the lord and vassal was made official in a special ceremony known as the act of homage. This was a vassal's oath given to a noble pledging loyalty in exchange for a fief. The bareheaded vassal knelt on the ground and placed his hands between those of the lord. The vassal promised to serve the lord and to help him in battle. The lord accepted the pledge, helped the vassal to his feet, and kissed him.

In return for loyalty and service, the lord gave the vassal a fief. Since there were few written agreements in the Middle Ages, the lord gave the vassal a glove, a piece of wood, or a lance to show that his word could be trusted. He also gave the vassal the right to govern the people who lived on the fief. The lord promised to protect the vassal from enemy attacks. If he failed to do so, the vassal no longer owed him loyalty.

Vassals had certain duties to perform. Their most important duty was to help the lord in battle. Vassals had to bring their own knights with them. They themselves were expected to take part in battles at least 40 days a year.

Vassals had to make payments to their lord. When a lord’s son became a knight or his daughter married, his vassals had to give the lord money. If a lord were captured in battle, his vassals had to pay the ransom, or sum of money given in exchange for a person’s release. Vassals were also expected to provide food and entertainment when their lord visited them at their home.

*Being an expert at feudalism, you should easily be able to

Complete study sheet questions 1-12.