The Feudal System
The feudal system was able to provide protection and order for the people opf the early Middle Ages. When Rome fell and the Dark Ages set in life was pretty chaotic in Europe. Attacks by tribes like the Vikings posed a threat to many and trade ground to a hault with roads in disrepair and bandits laying in wait. The feudal system solved the problem of how to protect people and established the social hiearchy of society at the time. Each member of the system had a role that they played in making society function.
Monarchs
There were numerous kingdoms in Europe at this time and each was ruled bu a King or a Queen. This was an inherited position and came with lots of power, wealth, and land. A monarch ruled by Divine Right, this meant they believed they had unlimited power and were given it by God. A monarch was responsible for ruling and protecting the kingdom. They gave some of their land to their nobles who took an oath of loyalty in which they promised to provide military help in times of war, pay and collect taxes, provide a place for the monarch to stay when they visited, and be loyal to the monarch.
Nobles
Nobles were vassals to the monarch, a vassal is someone who received land from someone in exchange for loyalty and service. In exchange the vassal received a fief, which is land received in exchange for service to a higher lord. Nobles had one fief which may be divided up into several manors. Manors were farmland and a small village that nobles oversaw. The noble was responsible for maintaining law and order on their manors, acting as judges and settling disputes. Nobles had various levels of nobility and titles. Some examples are baron, lord, count, earl, viscount etc.
Knights
Knights were low level nobles who were sent at a young age to train to be the mounted warriors of their lords. Knights received land in exchange for fighting for their lord. The first step to becoming a knight is to be a page at around the age of 7. Pages learned music, dance, poetry, and manners. The second step to being a knight is to become a squire at around the age of 16. Squires helped their knight in battle with armor and trained in the ways of knights. Once the squire turned 20 if he was worthy he would take part in a dubbing ceremony where he was made a knight by a lord or lady. Once he became a knight he was supposed to follow the code of chivalry, which said he needed to be honest, loyal, a Christian, and protect those in need.
Peasants
During the Middle Ages peasants were considered free or non-free. Free peasants might be referred to as freeman. Non-free peasants were referred to as serfs. Peasants were the largest group of society and comprised 90% of the population at the time. Peasants were not landowners but were given homes and land to farm that belonged to their lord. They needed to work the land and provide for themselves as well as the lord.
The feudal system was able to provide protection and order for the people opf the early Middle Ages. When Rome fell and the Dark Ages set in life was pretty chaotic in Europe. Attacks by tribes like the Vikings posed a threat to many and trade ground to a hault with roads in disrepair and bandits laying in wait. The feudal system solved the problem of how to protect people and established the social hiearchy of society at the time. Each member of the system had a role that they played in making society function.
Monarchs
There were numerous kingdoms in Europe at this time and each was ruled bu a King or a Queen. This was an inherited position and came with lots of power, wealth, and land. A monarch ruled by Divine Right, this meant they believed they had unlimited power and were given it by God. A monarch was responsible for ruling and protecting the kingdom. They gave some of their land to their nobles who took an oath of loyalty in which they promised to provide military help in times of war, pay and collect taxes, provide a place for the monarch to stay when they visited, and be loyal to the monarch.
Nobles
Nobles were vassals to the monarch, a vassal is someone who received land from someone in exchange for loyalty and service. In exchange the vassal received a fief, which is land received in exchange for service to a higher lord. Nobles had one fief which may be divided up into several manors. Manors were farmland and a small village that nobles oversaw. The noble was responsible for maintaining law and order on their manors, acting as judges and settling disputes. Nobles had various levels of nobility and titles. Some examples are baron, lord, count, earl, viscount etc.
Knights
Knights were low level nobles who were sent at a young age to train to be the mounted warriors of their lords. Knights received land in exchange for fighting for their lord. The first step to becoming a knight is to be a page at around the age of 7. Pages learned music, dance, poetry, and manners. The second step to being a knight is to become a squire at around the age of 16. Squires helped their knight in battle with armor and trained in the ways of knights. Once the squire turned 20 if he was worthy he would take part in a dubbing ceremony where he was made a knight by a lord or lady. Once he became a knight he was supposed to follow the code of chivalry, which said he needed to be honest, loyal, a Christian, and protect those in need.
Peasants
During the Middle Ages peasants were considered free or non-free. Free peasants might be referred to as freeman. Non-free peasants were referred to as serfs. Peasants were the largest group of society and comprised 90% of the population at the time. Peasants were not landowners but were given homes and land to farm that belonged to their lord. They needed to work the land and provide for themselves as well as the lord.
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