Feudalism, Crime and Punishment.

What is feudalism?

The structure that organised medieval society and the land within it, where land was exchanged for loyalty, money and service.

What is Land in Tenure

A grant of land given by a king or lord to a vassal in return for loyalty, money or services.

Who was at the top of the feudal hierarchy?

The king

What did nobles provide to the king?

Loyalty, money and soldiers.

What is a vassal?

A person (usually a noble or knight) who received land in exchange for loyalty and service.

What was the role of knights?

To fight for their lord and protect the land in exchange for land or payment. They also provided protection for the peasants that lived on their land, in exchange for crops and service.

What is the difference between peasants and serfs?

Peasants were free; serfs were bound to the land and could not leave.

What does “bound to the land” mean?

Serfs could not move or change jobs without permission from the lord.

What is the feudal hierarchy?

A strict social ranking from king → nobles → knights → peasants/serfs. The church was a serparate but very powerful institution.

What were obligations in feudalism?

The duties owed between groups.

How did the manor system support feudalism?

It provided food for the every class, and it made the peasants who lived on the manor self-sustainable. Because they and the crops they produced supported the rest of the system, the entire system was almost self-sustainable.

How did the Church influence feudal society?

It controlled education, knowledge and had a huge influence on how society was run. It was the only religion allowed, and the people beleived that the church wassacred and holy, and that god would protect the innocent.

What beliefs and values shaped medieval crime?

In medieval europe, crime was shaped by religious beliefs, the social structure, and the ultimate power of the king.

What was treason?

Betraying the king; considered the most serious medieval crime.

What was heresy?

Going against Church teachings; punished harshly because religion dominated life.

What was trial by ordeal?

A method of determining guilt using dangerous tests believed to reveal God’s judgement. They beleived that god would protect the innocent from whatever trial they had to face.

What was ordeal by fire?

The accused was made to hold a hot iron, if the wound healed cleanly, they were proclaimed innocent.

What was ordeal by water?

The accused was thrown into water; floating meant guilt because water “rejected” them.

What was ordeal by combat?

A fight between accused and accuser; God was believed to help the innocent win.

What was compurgation?

An oath‑swearing method where the accused and supporters swore innocence; reputation mattered.

What was a manor court?

A local court for peasants dealing with minor crimes like disputes or breaking feudal rules.

What was a royal court?

A higher court for serious crimes such as murder, often resulting in harsh punishments such as excecution, mutilation or imprisonment.

What were the stocks used for?

Public humiliation and deterrence; offenders were locked in wooden frames in clear veiw of everyone. Made to deter others from committing the same crime.

What was the pillory?

A device for public shaming similar to stocks but upright.

What does deterrence mean?

Punishing offenders harshly to scare others from committing crimes.

Why was medieval justice often unfair?

It relied on superstition, religious beliefs and social class, rather then evidence and equality.

How does modern justice differ from medieval justice?

Modern justice uses evidence, and beleives that everyone is equal beneath the law, regardless of social status, while medieval justice was built on superstision, the beleif that god would protect the innocent, and biased based on social class.