FEUDALISM
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Relationship Between Lords
and Vassals
 The relationship between lords and
vassals made up a big part of the
political and social structure of the
feudal system
 Vassals had certain duties to perform for
the lord.
 All nobles were ultimately vassals of the
king.
2
Feudal Contract
LORDS
GIVE
SERVICE
TO
GIVE
PROTECTION TO
VASSALS
3
What is a Baron?
• A Baron was a nobleman, and a rich
landowner who was a vassal of the king.
• In return for swearing fealty (or loyalty) to
the king, a baron was allowed to rule over his
plot of land however he saw fit.
• Barons were granted FIEFS by the king. A
fief was the parcel of land for which the baron
was responsible.
4
What is a Knight?
• Almost all nobles were knights
• Training began at age 7, as a page,
under the guidance of the lady of the
manor
• Became squires at age 15 and were
trained by other knights
• Those deemed worthy were
“dubbed” knights
5
Workers on the Manor
• There were two groups of peasant
workers on the manor:
• Yeomen- skilled workers who paid rent
and could leave the manor whenever
they wished. These servants could also
hold small plots of land, if they were liked
by their noble lord.
• Serfs – workers bound to the land by
contract with the nobles. (They had no
freedom; they where the baron’s/noble’s
property.)
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
SERFS AND YEOMEN
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND YEOMEN
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND YEOMEN
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CONSTRUCTING THE
PYRAMID OF POWER
KING
LOYALTY AND
SERVICE
LAND
POWERFUL
NOBLES
LAND AND
PROTECTION
LOYALTY AND
MILITARY SERVICE
LESSER NOBLES
(KNIGHTS)
LABOR
PROTECTION
SERFS AND YEOMEN
11
REVIEW
Let’s see how much you remember!
1) Everyone owed loyalty to the ________
2) _______ were really the most powerful. They received
_______ from the king.
3) Lesser nobles (knights) gave _________ _________ in return
for land and honor.
4) _______ were bound to the land. They worked in return for
____________.
5) __________ were skilled workers. They paid rent to the
______ and were free to move if they wanted to.
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Check Your Answers
1) Everyone owed loyalty to the king.
2) Barons were really the most powerful.
They received land from the king.
3) Lesser nobles (knights) gave military
service in return for land and honor.
4) Serfs were bound to the land. They
worked in return for protection.
5) Yeomen were skilled workers. They
paid rent to the barons/nobles and
were free to move if they wanted to.
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THE END
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