THE FEUDAL SYSTEM A Rotolo I T I

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

• MODULE: Topic: Aims: The Feudal System 1) the students should reinforce and increase their knowledge of the events involved in the topic and examined during the lessons in Italian 2) they should describe events, people and changes in English 3) they should make appropriate use of the English terms involved in the topic A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

Activities: 1) presentation of a glossary of key terms for an easier comprehension of the topic 2) introduction to the topic by the teacher 3) reading a text which describes the main events involved in the topic 4) asking questions and doing exercises to test and reinforce students knowledge and skills A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

We will investigate: - how the land was held in the feudal system ‑what the King's strength depended on ‑ who were the knights A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

Text: The Feudal System The need to give military service in return for land is known as a feudal system: the Latin word feudum means property held by a Lord. In the first place all land belonged to the King: he kept about a quarter of it as royal estates, where he and members of the court spent much time hunting the fox, deer and wild boar. The rest of the kingdom was shared out among the nobles ‑ earls, barons and bishops. These were tenant‑in‑chief, holding land directly from the Crown. A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

Before a tenant‑in‑chief received his estates he went through a ceremony of homage. He knelt, placed his hands between the King's, and said: “I promise to become your man, to hold these lands faithfully and perform my due service”. Then the King told his tenant what was expected of him. He must always be ready to fight for the king, and bring along a certain number of knights. It might be a dozen or as many as fifty. ‑ Occasionally he would to provide “castle – guard” (knights to defend a royal castle). Bishops and abbots had to provide knights, just as barons did, but they were not expected to go war themselves. A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

Some barons kept their knights close at hand, living in their castle. Then they were ready to fight at short notice. This was often necessary in troubled areas. But usually a tenant in chief divided up some of the lands, that the King had granted him, and gave his knights small estates, or manors, of their own. A manor normally contained one village. These knights therefore became under‑tenants and were able to support themselves. An under‑tenant swore homage to his lord, just as the lord had done to the King. In France and Germany, tenants - in - chief sometimes got their knights to fight against the King. In England all under - tenants should be faithful to the King first, before any other man. A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

The King’s fighting strength depended on a good supply of trained knights. A boy began to prepare for knighthood at about the age of seven, serving as a page in a lord's household and learning how gentlemen should behave. Later at about fifteen, he became a knight's squire, or personal servant. He was always at his master's side, and learned to ride, wear armour and use weapons so that he could go with him into battle. At about twenty he was ready to be a knight himself. Before the ceremony, the squire prayed all night at an altar and confessed his sins. Then, in front of his Lord, a sword and spurs were fastened on and he swore to be loyal, brave and well‑mannered. A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

VOCABULARY Verbs: to share out, to pay homage to, to swear, to kneel, to perform, to ride, to wear armour, to use weapons, to grant Nouns: estate, wild boar, kingdom, tenant‑in‑chief, homage, knighthood, page, squire, sin, sword, spur, earl, baron, bishop, abbot, castle, manor, supply Adjectives: loyal, brave, well‑mannered, faithful Adverbial phrase: at short notice A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

Activities a) Work with a partner and answer the following questions: 1. Who were tenants - in - chief? 2. What did the tenants ‑in ‑chief say when they received their estates? 3. What did the King’s fighting strength depend on? 4. What did a boy swear to be when he got a knighthood? A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

b) Look at the picture in the next page. This suit of armour is made of metal plates fixed together with rivets, or with leather straps. This allowed the knight to move about quite freely. Underneath, he wears a tunic of mail or padded jerkin. Describe the armour to your partner: First you can see a helmet, after that. . . A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine

c) Put the words below into the gaps on the text and then compare your version with the original. Battle sins knighthood behave weapons loyal sword squire page A boy began to prepare for __________ at about the age of seven, serving as a _______ in a lord's household and learning how gentlemen should_______. Later, at about fifteen, he became a knight's_______, or personal servant. He was always at his master s side, and learned to ride, wear armour and use________ so that he could go with him into_____. Before the ceremony, the squire prayed all night at an altar and confessed his ______. Then in front of his lord, a ______ and spurs were fastened on and he swore to be _____, brave and well‑mannered. A. Rotolo I. T. I. Malignani - Udine