The Middle Ages 500 AD to 1500 AD

The Middle Ages 500 AD to 1500 AD

Other terms: medieval (middle time between ancient world and modern times)/Dark Ages

Feudalism • A social system of rights and obligations based on land ownership patterns. • Share of land given was called a fief

• Lord: Land owner *swore to protect the vassal and their lands (children) • Vassal: Man who promised to be faithful to the lord (a vassal could also be a lord) *served in the lords army, appeared at special gatherings, • made payments when oldest daughter married and oldest son • became a knight, must feed and house the lord when he travels • through his land. • Everyone paid taxes

• Serf/Peasant • Did all the work on a manor (a large estate that included houses and farmland) • In return, the peasant could own a small strip of land. Serf could work some land but never owned it. • Serf’s came with the manor no matter who was in charge, peasants could leave • Had to get permission for everything (marriage)

Life on the Manor • The manor was the lord’s estate. It had to supply all aspects of life. A manor typically covered only a few square miles of land usually consisted of the lord’s manor house, a church, fields, pastures, and woodlands surrounded the village. Fifteen to thirty families lived in the village on a manor. It had to be a self-sufficient community because they were able to raise or produce nearly everything that they and their lorded needed for daily life.