5/23/13 The Last Chapter :(

Feudalism

• The Feudal Compact
• feudalism is a term used by historians to describe the governmental system and the relationships between landowners and warriors.
• warriors, known as knights, would pledge his allegiance to a lord, who would in turn give that knight land.
• the lord would grant a FIEF (property) to the knight, who would then became the lord's vassal (servant)- this was called the "feudal compact"
• the vassal must fight for the lord when he needs it and attend his court once a month.
• Homage and Knighthood
• a vassal was required to pay a homage to his lord, kneeling and taking the lords hand, while he speaks the oath of loyalty
• men were apprenticed to older knights.
• when a knight died, his fief would revert to his son.
• the Feudalization of the Church
• some clergy were know to fight as knights
• Feudal State
• Barons were lords of large territories who usually paid homage to a king
• a baron army could outnumber a king so that kept the kings power in check
• The Manorial Estate
• Medieval society was divided into three "estates"
• The clergy
• The nobility
• The common people
• common people
• farmers
• surfs
• Common people (peasants) worked on plantations (aka manors)
• the "Three-Field System
• divide land into 3
• part was planted in the late summer
• part was planted in the spring 
• one wasn't used
• then the fields were rotated
• around the manor there where small cottages that common people live in
• AHHHHHH IRON PLOW!!!!
• The people of the manor
• the lord was in charge and gave people things to do
• the lady of the house took care of parties and what not
• most peasants were serfs, meaning they would be bound to the land and the lord for "labor service"
• the Population grew bigger because more manors came up all the time. 
• The Growth or Trade
• after 1000 many towns across Europe there was an Agricultural Boom
• farm produce and animals were sold in towns
• spices and silks came over from port cities
• wool, linen, horses, weapon, and slaves were exported
• England and Low Countries were known for their trade in wool, and cloth
• Location and Appearance of Towns
• most medieval towns were surrounded by fortified walls
• residence also sprang up outside the walls in the suburbs
• towns were dominated by a main church and a central marketplace
• buildings for the craft guilds and the wealthiest families would also be in the center of town
• Life of towns people
• towns people were free
• merchants 
• skilled craftsman and artisans
• unskilled laborers and apprentices 
• The Guilds
• merchants, craftsmen and artisans formed their own group called guilds which regulated their trade and protected its members
• craftsmen were classified as masters, journeymen, and apprentices
• once became a master after spending years learning as an apprentice, working as a paid journeyman for a number of years, and completing him "masterpiece"