The Medieval Feudal System

2 Choose the correct answer. The medieval feudal system

Nobles and 2 LAND LOYALTY

3 (Lords of the manor)

The medieval feudal system

Anglo-Saxon England was mainly a society of landowners and farmers. There was already a king, peasants and rich nobles, but if the king needed an army, he used to call on the landowners and farmers to become his soldiers. The Normans had another level of society – knights who fought on horseback and who were ‘professional soldiers’. The knights were supposed to show courage, loyalty, honour and kindness.

1 Which level of society did not exist in Anglo-Saxon England? a nobles b king c knights d peasants

Venture Level 2 . The medieval feudal system, p.251 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE The Norman Conquest brought a new type of society to England – the feudal system. The feudal system is a system where the higher classes of society give land to the lower classes in return for loyalty.

2 In the feudal system, what could you receive for your loyalty to the people above you? a 10% of their money b land and protection c an army d honour

In the European feudal system, the king of a country owned all the land and had total power. In medieval times, people used to believe that God gave the king the right to rule. The king gave land to any nobles who promised to give him money and knights for his army. Nobles and bishops had to swear an oath to remain loyal to the king. In England, the bishops received money from the king, and everyone else in the country had to pay the church 10% of what they had.

3 Who had to give money to the church? a only the king b only the nobles c everyone d no one

The nobles gave land to any knights who promised to fight for them. And, finally, the knights allowed groups of peasants to farm small pieces of land. The knights also used to protect the peasants. A village often formed around their castle or manor house, and knights became known as ‘lords of the manor’. The lords of the manor had the responsibility of deciding punishments for crimes, making money and working out taxes.

4 Who was responsible for local laws and taxes? a the lords of the manor b the peasants

Around 90% of the people in Norman England were peasants. They used to work long hours to provide the lord of the manor with food. They didn’t own the land that they worked and they were not free to make their own decisions. It wasn’t much different to slavery, and peasants had a hard, short life.

5 What was the social position of peasants in England? a They worked for the lord of the manor. b They were free people. c They received money from the church. d They owned farms.