Feudalism Basics
What was the main purpose of feudalism?
A system to maintain order by exchanging land for loyalty and service.
Who was at the top of the feudal system?
The king.
What was the difference between a serf and a peasant?
Serfs were bound to the land, while peasants were sometimes free.
What battle does the Bayeux Tapestry depict?
The Battle of Hastings.
What is a manor?
A self-sufficient estate controlled by a lord.
Related to the Middle Ages (approx. 500-1500 AD).
Wood, mud, and sticks, also known as thatch (later replaced by stone).
What were the Three F’s of feudalism?
Fief (land), Fealty (loyalty), and Faith (religion).
Who received land from the king and gave it to knights?
Lords (or nobles).
How did a serf pay their lord?
With labor, crops, and taxes.
Who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before the Normans took over?
Harold Godwinson.
What is a vassal?
Someone who received land in exchange for loyalty and military service.
Why were castles built on hills? Give 2 reasons.
For better defense and visibility against attacks.
Who introduced feudalism to England and in what year?
William the Conqueror, 1066.
What was the main job of a knight in feudal society?
To provide military service to their lord.
Why couldn’t serfs leave their land freely?
They were legally tied to the land and needed permission to leave.
What was one major reason the Normans won the Battle of Hastings?
Their cavalry and archers outmaneuvered Harold’s infantry. They did a fake retreat and an inexperienced saxon compromised the shield wall.
Who were the clergy, and what role did they play?
Religious officials like priests and bishops who held social power.
What was a knight’s code of conduct called?
Chivalry.
What is a fief?
A piece of land granted by a lord to a vassal.
What role did peasants and serfs play in the feudal system?
They farmed the land and provided food for the manor.
What responsibilities did lords have to their vassals and serfs?
They provided protection and land to farm.
What happened to Harold Godwinson during the battle?
He was killed, possibly by an arrow to the eye.
What is a levy?
A tax collected by lords or rulers.
hat was the main goal of the medieval Catholic Church?
To spread Christianity and maintain influence over society.
How did feudalism help kings maintain power?
It allowed them to delegate land and responsibilities to lords who pledged loyalty.
Describe the exchange of land, loyalty, and protection in feudalism.
gs gave land to lords, lords granted land (fiefs) to knights, and knights protected peasants who worked the land.
What was life like for a serf on a medieval manor?
Long hours of farming, few rights, lived in small cottages, and rarely left the manor.
How did William the Conqueror use feudalism to control England after his victory?
He gave land to Norman lords who were loyal to him.
What does the term "medieval" mean?
Related to the Middle Ages (approx. 500-1500 AD).
Name something that may have contributed to the decline of feudalism.
The Black Death