The Middle Ages
The Feudal System
In today’s class
Today we will learn about the Feudal System.
● When this system was widely used in
Europe.
● Who was involved in the Feudal System.
● What their different roles were in the Feudal
System.
The Middle Ages
Fall of Roman
Empire
(476 AD)
The Middle
Ages
(5-15th
Centuries)
The
Renaissance
(1453 AD)
The Feudal System
● The King gave an area of land called a
fief to rich nobles called lords.
● The lords provided the king with an
army for his kingdom. The lords also
gave land to professional soldiers
called knights.
● The knights employed peasants to
work on the land to provide food.
The Feudal System
● The peasants were tied to the land and
couldn’t leave without the knights or nobles
permission.
● Serfs were lower than peasants. They had to
work for free and were little better than slaves
for the knight.
● Any subject of the king; lords knights,
craftsmen and peasants were the king’s
vassals.
Copy this
pyramid into
your notes
copies, under
the heading:
The Feudal
System.
Answer these Questions
1. What were the Middle Ages?
2. What was the feudal system?
3. Explain the following terms: King, fief,
vassal, knight, nobles, peasants,
serfs.
In Conclusion
● The Feudal System was used in the Middle
Ages.
● At the top was the monarch.
● He gave his subjects land and protection,
and in return, they provided him with
different kinds of services.