Daily Do Now World History

Tuesday, July 16
th

Please record your answer to the
following question:
What do you think the social/economic
classes are today?
How are they divided?
What are your initial thoughts regarding these
classes?


Classes Today?

Feudalism:
Definition: The loose political relationship based
on mutual obligations (social contracts) where
parcels of land (fief) was divided by lords to be
given to vassals



Monarch:
King/Quee
n

Lord/Major
Vassal
Knight
Peasant/S
erf
Peasant/S
erf
Knight/Vas
sal
Peasant/S
erf
Peasant/S
erf
Lord/Major
Vassal
Knight
Peasant/S
erf
Peasant/S
erf
Knight
Peasant/S
erf
Peasant/S
erf
The Commendation Ceremony
A ceremony where the vassal would
pledge FEALTY (loyalty) to the lord
Includes paying homage:
1. Military service/Supplying warriors



2. Paying tax
3. Taking care of land
4. Protecting people
Did you say Loose?
Question: If someone were to promise
you a piece of their land for your life
through this binding method, would you
trust them to uphold the agreement on
faith?
How do we make sure people uphold their
agreements today?
The Manor (the fief given by the
lord)
Manors: The Economic Side of
Feudalism
Manor: A Self-
Contained World
Lords manor
house/castle
Church
Workshops: Tanner,
Blacksmith, Mills
15-30 Serf families
Natural resources:
forest,
streams/ponds/lakes
5-10 square miles
Manors: The Economic Side of
Feudalism
Manor Life: Harshness
Taxes: milling grain,
marriage, church tax
(tithe)
Living conditions:
unsanitary, cold,
cramped
Natural disasters:
floods, plagues,
droughts
Warfare
The Manor contd
Spring Field
Fall Field
Fallow Field
Nobility
Monarchs/Lords
Vassals=lesser lords
Wealthy
Land owners
Protected people
Provide food
Made decisions= POWER
Knights: The nobility that did not
receive land.
Did the fighting

Armor

Various weapons
Battle axe
Bow
Arming sword
Crossbow
Claymore
Dagger
Flail
Greatsword
Halberd
War hammer
Pick
Javelin
Lance
Bill
Longbow
Longsword
Mace
Shield
Spear
Sword
Pike
Poleaxe
Free Peasants
The people that worked their own land
Farmers
Bakers
Blacksmiths
Moved freely

Serfs
Worked the lords land
No freedom to move
Serfs were not slaves
Very short lives (25 yrs)
Paid taxes, served in military
In your notes match The
following terms with the
appropriate letter
Manor
Lord
Knight
Serf
Peasant
Vassal
Clergy
A. A self sufficient place
where people lived during
the Middle Ages.
B. Part of the nobility
owned no land so had to
fight
C. Common people that
had no freedom
D. Nobility that pledge
fealty to take care of land
E. People that did the
praying
F. Common people that
had freedom
G. Nobility that were in
charge of large pieces of
land