Middle Ages: Feudalism & Chivalry Essential Question: What is the structure of feudalism and the role of the manor system? If you were absent…. 12-6-17 Wednesday: Feudalism Notes 12-7- 17. Thursday: Chivalry Notes and Middle Ages Writing Assignment From 800 to 1000, a 2nd major wave of invasions struck Europe led by Vikings, Muslims &Magyars ■ Text These invasions caused widespread fear & suffering Kings could not defend against invasion People stopped looking to kings for protection Vikings…”Northman, Norsemen” Set sail from Scandinavia Worshipped warlike gods & had nicknames Warriors, traders, farmers, and explorers Excellent seafarers and raided with great speed Viking explorer Leif Ericson reached North America almost 500 years before Columbus Muslims and Magyars Invade Magyars - nomadic people from present day Hungary. Raided isolated villages and monasteries. Took captives to sell as slaves. Muslims attacked from the south with the plan to conquer and settle in Europe. A New Social Order: Feudalism • Feudalism began when Charles the Simple, King of France granted Rollo, a Viking leader a piece of French territory, Normandy. Many similar agreements were made elsewhere. • Feudalism is based on rights and obligations • Land-owning lords offer land (fief) to knights in exchange for their loyalty & promise to Bayeaux Tapestry protect the lord’s land Feudal Structure Kings had land but very little power Feudal Structure Lords (also called Nobles) were the upper-class landowners; they had inherited titles (“Duke,” “Earl,” “Sir”) Feudal Structure Knights were specially trained soldiers who protected the lords & peasants – vassals took an oath of fealty (loyalty) Feudal Structure Some peasants were serfs & could not leave the lord’s estate Label your chart! Lords built castles to protect their territory from outside invasions The Manorial System During the Middle Ages, the The lord’s land was manorial system was the way called a manor in which people survived The lord provided peasants with housing, farmland, & protection In exchange, peasants repaid the lord by working his land & providing a portion of the food they produced Peasant life was hard: They paid taxes to use the lord’s mill, had to get permission to get married, & life expectancy was about 35 years old. They also had to pay 1/10th (tithe) a church tax. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKCixcrV90w Manors were self-sufficient communities; Everything that was needed was produced on the manor The Age of Chivalry Knights: Warriors on Horseback Charles Martel observed that Muslim cavalry often helped during battle and as a result he organized Frankish troops of armored horsemen or knights. Leather saddles and stirrups changed the way warfare was conducted during the 700s. Feudal lords raised private armies of knights Knights were rewarded with fiefs from nobles/lords Knights usually participated in about 40 days of combat per year. By the 1100s, the code of chivalry (a complex set of ideals) required a knight fight bravely in defense of 3 masters: feudal lord, heavenly Lord, and his chosen lady A Knight’s Training -Age 7 – sons of nobles are sent off to a castle of another lord to serve and practice fight skills -Age 14 – reached the rank of squire: servant to a knight -Age 21 – becomes a knight – usually traveled for a year or two to gain experience - Tournaments – mock battles - https://youtu.be/zH6U5y086hw Brutal Reality of Warfare - Extreme bloodshed - Defenders of the castles poured boiling water, hot oil, or molten lead on enemy soldiers. - Soldiers with crossbows, that could pierce full armor, were often stationed on the roof. Literature of Chivalry ■ Epic Poems – Recounted a hero’s deeds and adventures – Song of Roland – earliest and most epic poems about a battle during Charlemagne’s reign ■ Love Poems & Songs – Under the code of chivalry, a knight’s duty to his lady was just as important as his duty to his lord – poems and songs tell of the two obligations – Troubadours- traveling poet-musicians… composed poems about the joys and sorrows of love In what way does this painting show the knight’s code of chivalry? Women’s Role in Feudal Society ■ According to the Church and feudal society, women are inferior to men ■ Noblewomen • Can inherit land, defend castle, send knights to war on lord’s request • Usually confined to activities of the home or convent ■ Peasant Women • Most labor in home and field, bear children, provide for family • Poor, powerless, do household tasks at young age How does the life of a Noblewoman differ from a Peasant Woman? What is the main concerns for a noblewoman/peasant woman? Writing Assignment: You must Write a 1-2 page, first-person account of daily life for a person living in the Middle Ages. You should make up a name, develop a voice, and describe your life as a king, noble, knight, or peasant. Feel free to give yourself a family and describe them as well. Grading will be based on creativity, organization, voice, word choice, evidence and elaboration. You must give evidence from the textbook and your notes. Most importantly, please have fun with this writing assignment! Due: Manor House Lord’s Castle Peasant Village Village Church.