Feudalism

Feudalism

Feudalism

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The social hierarchy in medieval
Europe was known as
feudalism.

●

It came about as a result of the
collapse of the Roman Empire,
as people no longer had the
Roman army to protect them
against raids from the Germanic
tribes, also known as
“Barbarians”

Feudalism

●

Feudalism, or the feudal system,
offered a new way for people to
protect and provide for themselves

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People moved on to the land run by
the wealthy and powerful lords

●

Here they could be protected by the
lord’s army, and take shelter in the
castle during attacks

●

As payment, these people provided
military service and worked the lord’s
land for him

Peasants

Knights

Lords

King

The King owned the land, but gave plots of
land called ‘manors’ to the lords.

Lords received plots of land from the King,
known as “manors”. In return they provided
soldiers and horses for warfare

Knights received some land from the Lords, known as "fiefs." In return they fought for
their lords and the King

The peasant class farmed the land for their
lords and knights, in return for food, shelter
and protection

Peasants

Knights

Lords

King

Peasants

●

The lord provided peasants on
his land with a place to live and
the opportunity to grow their
own food

●

In return, the peasants provided
the lord with their labour as
farmers, or as skilled workers
such as blacksmiths

●

They also gave a portion of the
food they produced as a tax to
the lord

Peasants

●

The poorest of the peasants
were the serfs.

●

They worked for the lord and
received protection but had very
few rights

●

Most serfs were not free to leave
the manor and needed the lord’s
permission to marry. If you were
born a serf, you and your
children would always be serfs.