Feudalism and Manor Life

Chapter 9 - The Early Middle Ages

Section 3 - Feudalism and Manor Life

Main Ideas

  • Feudalism Governed Relationships:
    • Knights and nobles operated under the rules of feudalism, which defined their interactions and obligations.
  • Geographical Spread of Feudalism:
    • This system of governance spread throughout much of Europe during the Middle Ages.
  • Economic Dominance of the Manor System:
    • The manor system became the predominant economic structure in medieval Europe.
  • Growth of Towns and Trade:
    • The emergence of towns and trade was instrumental in the gradual decline of the feudal system.

Feudalism Governs Knights and Nobles

  • Insecurity After Frankish Kings:
    • In the 800s, Frankish kings failed to protect their empire from invasions.
    • Nobles took it upon themselves to defend their lands, resulting in a diminished faith in kingly authority.
  • Rising Power of Nobles:
    • Some nobles gained power comparable to that of kings, ruling their territories independently while maintaining nominal loyalty to the monarchs.

The Feudal System

  • Knight and Noble Relationships:
    • Nobles granted fiefs (pieces of land) to knights (mounted warriors) in exchange for military service.
    • The noble who granted land was known as a lord, while the knight who promised loyalty and service was a vassal.
    • The network of mutual obligations and promises was termed feudalism.
    • A person could simultaneously hold the status of both lord and vassal.

Spread of Feudalism

  • Origins and Expansion:
    • The Franks originated feudalism, which spread to other European kingdoms.
    • In the 1000s, Frankish knights introduced feudalism to northern Italy, Spain, and Germany, and it later spread to eastern Europe.
  • Introduction to Britain:
    • Feudalism reached Britain in the 1000s through William the Conqueror, a Norman noble.
    • William defeated the English king at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and became king of England.
    • He rewarded his knights with vast tracts of land in England as gratitude for their support.

The Manor System

  • Definition and Structure:
    • The manor was a large estate owned by a lord or knight, featuring a central house or castle, pastures, fields, forests, and a village inhabited by the peasants.
  • Land Utilization:
    • Lords typically retained about one-fourth to one-third of their land for personal use, distributing the rest among peasants and serfs.
    • Serfs were bound workers tied to the land, serving the lords and unable to leave without permission.

Towns and Trade Grow

  • Population and Settlement Patterns:
    • During the Middle Ages, the majority of people resided on manors or small farms rather than in urban centers.
    • Post-1000, towns started emerging, with some evolving into significant cities due to population growth.
  • Technological and Economic Advancements:
    • Advancements such as the heavier plow and horse collar allowed farmers to produce larger harvests, contributing to the population increase.
  • Expansion of Trade:
    • Increased trade, facilitated by merchants transporting goods from Asia and Africa, led to the establishment of extensive trade routes throughout Europe.
  • Decline of Feudalism:
    • The growth of trade ultimately precipitated the decline of the feudal system, altering the social and economic landscape of the Middle Ages.