The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe

Directions: You will create a concept web over the major topics of literature and philosophy. You will place the terms inside of your web and connect words by lines and writing connector phrases between the words. Try to make as many connections as you can. Most words connect to multiple other words. Your connector phrases are explanations of how the two terms relate to one another.

Knight Lord Monarch Peasants Moats

Roman Catholic Church Manors Fiefs Nobles


Lord

Monarch



Nobles



Knight



Roman Catholic Church

Feudalism



Peasants



Moats



Fiefs



Manors


Look at next page for details

Feudalism

Monarch – The monarchs were the top of the feudal society and were very strong.

Lord – In the feudal system, people pledged their loyalty to a lord.

Knight – Knights were warriors under this system.

Peasants – Most people during the Middle Ages were peasants, and they were the lower class

under this system.

Fiefs – These were land grants under this system.

Manors – These were large estates under this system.

Moats – These were developed to protect the manors during this time.

Roman Catholic Church – The church owned a great deal of land under this system.

Nobles – Upper society during this time period and afterwards
Monarch

Nobles – Vassals or nobles were relied upon by the monarchs to provide enough knights and soldiers.

Lords – Monarchs were feudal lords. When a monarch gave a fief to a lord, the lord became his vassals.

Nobles and Peasants

Complete the Venn diagram to compare and contrast the lives of nobles and peasants on a feudal manor. In the overlapping parts of the ovals, write or draw three ways these groups were similar. In each of the other parts of the ovals, draw or write three ways they were different.

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    Most lived on manors
    
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    Diseases affected both groups
    
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    Medieval times
    
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    Bathed once a week
    
  • 
    Answered to monarch
    
  • 
    Most privileged life
    
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    Member of nobility
    
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    Given manor(s) to run
    
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    Lived in grander structures
    
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    Had to manage and defend his land and people who worked it
    
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    Appt official to ensure work was being done
    
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    Acted as judges – power to fine and punish
    
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    Held posts in king’s gov’t
    
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    Sent knights into warfare
    
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    Leisure activity: hunting, hawking, feasting, dancing, board games, and reading
    
  Nobles Peasants
  
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  • 
    Legally classified as free or unfree
    
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    Worked the land of the nobles or some other skilled work
    
  • 
    Paid taxes to the lord
    
  • 
    Had to give portions of their grain to the lord
    
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    Lived in small houses with 1-2 rooms with little furniture or other possessions
    
  
  

1. 
   What were Charlemagne’s greatest accomplishments? How was he helped by the Catholic Church?
   

2. 
   Why was there a need for order after the death of Charlemagne in 814?
   

Pretend you are a knight in medieval Europe. You would like to let future generations of your family know what life was like on a feudal manor. Write a letter to them below. Be sure to mention these things:

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  The main groups of people who live on your manor
  
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  What each person or group does for the others
  
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  What works well in the feudal system and why
  
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  What doesn’t work well in the feudal system and why
  

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  lords
  
  What responsibilities did lords have in the feudal system?
  
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    For managing and defending their manors and acting as judges
    
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    Fought for their own lords in times of war and supplied soldiers
    
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    Also appointed leaders
    
  
  What was the role of noblewomen in the feudal system?
  
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    Responsible for raising and training their children and sometimes the children of other noble families. They were also responsible for overseeing their households.
    
  
  

Social Classes in Feudal Europe	Individuals/ Groups in Our Society	Similarities and Differences between these two groups
Monarch	President/Gov’t	S- rulers/leaders D- President answers to other branches
Lords	Governors/ Congress	S- manage the land, appt officials to ensure things are done D- no “nobility” in USA, don’t life on manors, no protection (like moats) around homes, don’t act as judges
Knights	Army	S- trained to protect (fight); some USA consider it a way of life D – USA doesn’t have to go through so many steps, don’t help women in every way possible, don’t have to perform in tournaments
Peasants	American citizens	S – work land or jobs, pay taxes to gov’t D – USA all free; houses varies in size, free to many whom we wanted, can move up or down the social classes

• 
  This nickname was given to the Middle Ages. Dark Ages
  
• 
  The period known as “The Middle Ages” is characterized by trade, land ownership, strong central govt. or no religion? Explain your selection. The Feudal system and the control of the church (which held a large amount of land)
  

• 
  Who would most likely have said, “If you give me your loyalty, I will give you land and protection.”? A vassal or a lord
  
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  What was a knight’s most important training? There is debate for the correct answer here—so think of what their main purpose was in the Feudalism activity. Although they were trained in chivalry, their most important training was for fighting.
  
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  Serf were peasants who were not allowed to marry without permission from the lord/can’t leave the land.
  
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  What do these medieval items have in common? They were all used in military strategy or where examples of military technology.
  
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    Stone Wall
    
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    Moat
    
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    Knight’s armor
    
• 
  In the feudal system an individual’s social status was generally determined by what? birth
  
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  What does the word feudalism mean? The economic and political system that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages
  
• 
  Which city was added to the empire by Charlemagne by 814? Rome
  
• 
  On which river is Tours located? Loire
  
• 
  Which island was added by Charlemagne by 814? Corsica
  
• 
  What physical feature did Charlemagne cross to enter Italy? The Alps