Feudalism and Manorialism
Invaders Attack Western Europe
Manors: The Economic side of Feudalism
A New Social Order: Fuedalism
From 800 to 1000 Invaders Destroyed the Carolingian Empire
A Self Contained World
Vikings attacked from the north
A manor was a large area owned by a Lord. The Lord employed serfs to work the land, as well as other tasks.
Serfs stayed in the area near the manor
Serfs didn't need anything else
Magyar attacked from the east
Muslims attacked from the south
Were from North Africa
Attacked what is now Hungary
From Scandinavia
Manors were self sufficient
Had fields, workshops, streams etc.
Made serfs want to stay
Only got unusual objects from outside the manor
Vikings were Germanic
New tools for farmers
Religion
Worshiped Warlike Gods
Independent thought was used for farming inventions
Culture
Took pride in nicknames such as:
Eric Bloodaxe
Improved old designs
Thorfinn Skullsplitter
Made a new horse harness
Invented horseshoes
Made the first pitchfork
The Harshness of Manor Life
Millitarism
They raided with terrifying speed
Carried swords and heavy wooden shields
Warships help 300 warriers
72 oars
could weigh 20 tons
travel in 3 ft deep water
Peasants paid heavy taxes
Trade
The vikings ability to travel by water allowed them to trade several different places
Paid tax for all bread made
Exploration
Viking Emperor Leif Ericson
Traveled to:
Reached North America around 1000, 500 years before Columbus
Russia
Constantinople
and across the North Atlantic
A serf was someone who worked on the land for protection and other benefits
Change
Servitude
The vikings began to pick up Christianity
Lived in cottages
Paid for weddings
They stopped raiding monasteries after becoming Christians
Taxes to the lord
Taxes to the church
They raided Monasteries
Close to the neighbors
Two rooms
One main room
One bedroom
The land became more suitable for farming --> less people adopted the sea faring life
Origin
In 911 two former enemies faced off
Rollo; head of a Viking Army
Charles the Simple
Plundered the rich Sayn River Valley
King of France with very little power
Charles grants Rollo a huge piece of French Territory
Rollo pledges loyalty to King
850-950, Attacks worsened in France
Self-Interest
Rulers and Warriors made similar agreement to Charles the Simple and Rollo
Taxes
How did religion support feudalism?
Created Feudalism
Serfs believed that God had placed
them in this position on the social ladder.
Feudal system based on rights and obligations
In exchange for military protection
A lord (landowner) granted an area of land called a fief
Person receiving a fief was called a vassal
Structured like a pyramid
Was the distinction between serfs and slaves important?
Yes. A serf could not be bought or sold, except with land. They were still expected to work in harsh conditions.
Children were expected to work when they came of age
King
Vassals
Wealthy Landowners like nobles and bishops
Knights
Mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lord's land in exchange for fiefs
Landless pesants
Worked in the fields
Status determined prestige and power
Medieval writers classified people in three groups
Those who fought (Nobles & Knights)
Those who prayed (Men & Women of church)
Those who work (peasants)
Social classes were usually inherited
Servitude
Majority of population was peasants
Most peasants were serfs
Serfs could not lawfully leave where they were born
Serfs were not slaves
Products produced by serfs went to lord
Lords could not buy or sell them
In what way might a lord also be a vassal?
A lord might also be a Vassal because a Lord (or Landlord) might be serving the King for a fief
How did Feudalism compare to the Aryan caste system?
Aryan Caste System was put in a pyramid much like Feudalism. Both had religion or their lord at the top. Then merchants/people with money and then peasants.
They were great horsemen
Attacked isolated towns and monasteries
They didn't settle on conquered land
They controlled:
Northern Italy
Rhineland
Burgundy
They took captives to sell as slaves
Magyars were nomadic
They invaded through what is now Italy and Spain
In 600's and 700's the goal was to settle in Europe
During the 800's and 900's they began not only conquering land but stealing goods and money
They were great by sea
They attacked the coast very well
They also attacked as far in as Switzerland
How did geography play a role in ending Viking attacks in Europe?
The Magyars took captives rather than settling land. What advantages did this approach have?
They could still use the land and now they also had people to do all the labor for them to make the land useful.
The Vikings attacked best by water and the geography was mainly water around the outside so if you could find a way to stop their power from the water you could survive
