Section+13-2+Feudalism+in+Europe

Section 13-2: Feudalism in Europe


 * Bold: **
 * lord- ** a landowner
 * fief- ** a piece of land that is granted to a person.
 * vassal- ** a person who receives a fief.
 * knight- ** were mounted horseman who pledged to defend their lords' lands in exchange for fiefs.
 * serf-** people who could not lawfully leave the place where they were born.
 * manor-** the lord's estate.
 * tithe-** a church tax. That was one tenth of their income.

- After the first treaty that broke up the kingdom Charlemagne's grandson's broke it up even more. One part was battle territory.
 * Setting the Stage:**

- Invasions destroyed the Carolingian Empire. Muslim invaders seized Sicily and raided Italy. Like the huns these people terrorized Germany and Italy. And the Vikings also attacked.
 * Invaders Attack Western Europe:**

- The Vikings were also Germanic people who also went by Northmen or Norseman. They worshipped war like gods and took pride in nicknames like Eric Battleaxe and Thorfinn Skullsplitter. - The Vikings were fast killers. They beached their boats attacked quickly with sword and wooden shields then went back out to sea. They left before others could come. They had large boats. The boats weigh tons but could sail through nearly three feet of water. - The Vikings were also big tragers, farmers and explorers. They travelled across the North Atlantic. Leif Ericson reached North America Way before Columbus. As the Vikings started to accept Christianity they stopped raiding monasteries.
 * The Vikings Invade from the North:**

- As the Viking stop attacking Europe new peoples started to attack. The Magyars(nomadic people) attack from the east. They were very good horse man. They invaded isolated villages and monasteries. they did not settle to conquer land but to enslave people and sell them. - The Muslims attacked form the south. The attacked from their stronghold in North Africa going through Italy and Spain. The muslims attacked lands on the coasts and but got as far inland as Switzerland. - The invasions caused widespread disorder and suffering. Most wester Europeans lived in constant danger. The kings had trouble defending their land. The people no longer look at the central ruler for security. Many turned to local rulers who had their own armies. Any leader who could fight the invaders gained followers and political strength.
 * Magyars and Muslims Attack from the East and South:**

- Two enemies made a peace treaty. Rollo the head of the viking army Charles the Simple had little power and granted the Vikings control of a large piece of territory. It became to be known was Northmen's land or Normandy. In return Tollo swore a pledge of loyalty to the king.
 * A New Social Order: Feudalism:**

- Many people started to make agreement similar to Rollo's and Charles. Feudalism had emerged in Europe. (Similar to China's.) - This system was based on rights and obligations. in exchange for military protection and other things land holders granted land called fief. Feudalism depended on the control of land.
 * Feudalism Structures Society:**

- The king was at top then powerful vassals, wealthy landowners and nobles, then there were knights. At the bottom were landless peasants.
 * The Feudal Pyramid:**

- A person's power was determined by prestige and power. Medieval writings classified people into three groups. those who fought, those who prayed and those who worked. Social classes were usually inherited. - Many people were peasants in Europe in the Middle Ages. Most popele couldn't leave the place they were born under law. They were not slaves just bond to the land. They could not be sold or boughten.
 * Social Classes Are Well Defined:**

- The manor system was the basic economic arrangement. The manors system rested on a set of rights and obligation between the lord and his serfs. The lord proved the serfs with houses, farmland and protection from bandits. In return the Serfs tended to the lord's lands, cared for animals, and preformed other tasks. All peasants owed the lord certain duties. They had to work a certain amount of days a week and had to give the lord a small portion of their grain.
 * Manors: The Economic Side of Feudalism:**

-Peasants usually stayed near their manor. A manor usually covered only a few square miles. It usually consisted of the lord's manor house, a church, and workshops. usually 15-30 families lived in the village on a manor. Streams sometimes ran through manors and were good for fish and water. - The serfs and peasants did most of the work needed for the lord to live. They got everything and made everything for the lord.
 * A Self-Contained World:**

- The peasants were paid well for their work. They paid tax on all grain ground in the lord's mill. Any way of avoiding the taxes was considered a crime. They also paid fr marriage. Marriages only took place i the lord was ok with it. - Serfs lived in cottages that only had one or two rooms. The family slept in one room on some straw. Peasants ate simple vegetables breads grain cheese and soups. - Life for serfs was work. Normal days consisted of caring for crops and animals home and family. As soon as their children were old enough they would work in the fields. Peasants average life span was 35 years. They usually never travelled farther than 25 miles from their life. - Serfs thought their doings were part of the Church's teachings. They believed that god chose a person's place in society.
 * The Harshness of Manor Life:**