MIDDLE AGES FEUDAL SYSTEM GOVERNMENT The government of Europe during the was based on the feudal system. This meant small communities were formed around a local and a manor. The lord owned the land and everything in it. were kept safe in return for their service to the lord. The lord provided the king with soldiers and taxes. MANOR The manor was at the center of Middle Ages life. It was run by a local lord. He lived in a large house or castle. People gathered there during celebrations or for protection when attacked. A small village was built around the castle, including a local church. Farms spread out from there and were worked by the peasants. MIDDLE AGES HIERARCHY King *Top leader in the land *Could not control all of the land by himself, so it was divided up among the Barons *In return, Barons pledged their and soldiers to the king *When the king died, his firstborn son inherited the throne *If one family stayed in power for a long time, this was known as a dynasty *Kings believed they were given their right to rule by God, known as “divine right” Bishop *Top church leader in the kingdom *Managed an area called a diocese *The Catholic Church was very powerful in most parts of Medieval Europe, making the Bishop powerful *The Church received a tithe of 10 percent from all people, making some Bishops very rich Baron *Ruled large areas of land called fiefs *Reported directly to the king *Very powerful *Divided their land among who ran individual manors *Maintained an army at the king’s service *If they did not have an army, they would pay the king a tax instead, called shield money Lord or *Ran the local manors *Also knights; could be called into battle at any moment by their Baron Knight *They owned everything on their land- peasants, crops, and village *Both lords and barons pledged and fealty to their kings *Held absolute power over the or manor, including holding court and deciding punishments for crimes Peasants *The majority of the people in the Middle Ages were peasants (about 90%) *Had a rough life or Serfs *Some peasants were considered free and could own their own businesses like carpenters, bakers, and blacksmiths *Other peasants were indentured and more like slaves, and owned nothing and were pledged to their local lord. *Worked long days, six days a week, and often barely had enough food to live off *Most peasants died before they were thirty years old because of the tough life they lived *Peasants had to pay taxes, keeping them poor ©Teaching to the Middle TRUE OR FALSE?: A. A. Money 20. What peasants did receive in return for working the land? A. 19. What was the average life expectancy for a ? A. 18. If crime a occurred in a who manor, decided the punishment? A. 17. Which person ran local manors? C. A. 16. What was a fief? C. Some were very rich A. 15. the Which of following NOT is true the of Bishop in the feudal system? C. A. 14. MULTIPLE CHOICE: Name______13. Peasants did not havenot did 13. Peasants to pay taxes. were12. Peasantsindentured.freeor either 11. workedPeasants life.rough verya had and hard 10. were peasantsAll could makefree,and own. theirliving of a MiddleAges the were people9. 50% inof About peasants. 8. manors.ran Lords 7. ruledBarons large land calledof areasfiefs. Protestant6. The wasChurch powerful time. Europethisin during 5. was A dynasty familyone powerin for long time.a wasbecausehe barons had 4. Theking unableto land. theall control wasThelord3. powerfulmostthe Feudalthe in personSystem. ownedlordeverything2. and landThe the it.in 1. MiddleAges government was Feudalthe on basedSystem. 15 King Fiefs Person reported who to lord. the ruler A the of land. Required tithea from 20% of all people Kings lived in the manor He the was top leader in the land Which of following the NOT is true of the King in the feudal system? THE THE FEUDAL SYSTEM Place a checka Place in thecorrect column. B. Protection B. 20 B. Lord B. Barons Choose thebestChoose answer. STATEMENT C. C. Taxes C. 25 C. Baron C. Lords D. The person who protected lord. the B. Large land areas. D. Top church leader in the kingdom B. They managed an area called a diocese D. Kings believed they had divine right B. The King’s firstborn inherited the throne D. Food D. 30 D. Jury D. Kings T F

©Teaching to the Middle