Feudalism & Society
How long did feudalism last?
Between the 9th and the 15th centuries.
What was a manor or fiefdom?
Large territories belonging to or granted by the king in exchange for services.
How was the clergy divided?
Higher clergy and lower clergy; secular clergy and regular clergy.
What were the elements of Romanesque architecture? x3
Stone construction, interior supports, semicircular arches.
What were the different groups in feudal society and what did they do?
Nobility: fought & defended feudal society
Clergy: prayed for the salvation of humanity
Commoners: worked & carried out the necessary tasks to maintain & feed the other groups
What were the two parts of a manor and their uses?
Demesne: land worked for the lord by peasants/serfs.
Dependent holdings: small plots leased to peasants.
Who belonged to the higher clergy?
The Pope, bishops, abbots/abbesses of major monasteries.
What were the main types of Romanesque buildings? x4
Churches, monasteries, castles and walls
What were the two types of dependent relationships?
Lord–vassal (vassalage): military allegiance for economic concessions.
Servitude: peasants received protection and justice but had to work on the demesne.
Who were the two types of commoners?
Villeins (free) and serfs (bound to the land).
Who belonged to the regular clergy?
Monks and nuns living in monastic communities.
What was the purpose of Romanesque sculpture and painting?
To teach Christian doctrine to illiterate people using imagery
What were the two groups of nobility?
Higher nobility (dukes, counts, marquises, barons) and lower nobility (knights).
Describe a serf
Commoners who could not leave the dependent holding, transmitted their condition to their children. Had some personal property
What were the different parts of a monastery? x4
Religious: church & monks’ cells
Economic: vegetable patch, winepress, stable, forge, carpentry
Social: hospice & infirmary
Cultural: school, library, scriptorium.
What were the types of Romanesque sculpture?
Relief sculpture (stone on buildings) and free-standing sculpture (wood or ivory).
What was life like for noblemen?
Focused on military activity; in peace they practiced horsemanship, hunting, and tournaments.
What was life like for peasants? (men, women, children)
Men: heavy agricultural tasks and trades.
Women: agricultural help, domestic chores, childcare.
Children: simple chores from age 4; heavier tasks by age 14.
What were the main powers of the church? x4
Economic, Political, Social and cultural
Why did Romanesque art emphasize religious themes and simplified figures?
To communicate clearly with believers and reinforce Christian teachings.