Feudalism In The Middle Ages
Medieval Feudalism
Feudalism was a system used in the Middle Ages as a social order. In feudalism, people living in the medieval time period were divided into different classes. The pope was at the top of the pyramid. This is because the pope was the head of the church. Religion played a huge role in the Middle Ages. Owning property was also significant during the Middle Ages. The more land one owned, the higher up they would be in society.
Below the pope were the Kings and Queens. They were the head of the countries and ruled over everyone else. Below the Kings and Queens were the Lords and Ladies. They were in charge of specific land called manors. The manor that they lived on was very big and the Serfs and Peasants did most of the work
on the manor such as farming the plants and raising livestock. The next section of the feudalism pyramid was where the knights and Vassals were. A vassal was a person who protected the medieval citizens in return for a fief. A fief was when a Noble, or a Lord or Lady gave a Vassal land in return for protection against enemies. The knights were in this section mainly because they protected the medieval people just like the Vassals did. The knights were expected to follow the code of chivalry. This was an extremely important part of being a knight. The code of chivalry was a code the knights had to follow that stated all knights should act gentlemanly and be courteous to others. The last section of the medieval pyramid happened to be the most populated. The last section included the Serfs and Peasants. They did the most work on the manor. Unlike the Vassals who got rewarded for helping the Nobles, the Serfs and Peasants did not get anything in return for doing the majority of the work on the manor. But the peasants did get a place to live. Their houses usually were one room that had clay walls and a straw roof. The Serfs were not allowed to leave the manor unless they had permission from the Lord or Lady. This rule also applied with Serfs getting married. If a Serf wished to get married but the Noble denied the Serf could not get married. Overall feudalism not only had a huge impact on the medieval people but had a huge impact on the life that people all over the world live today.
Feudalism was a system used in the Middle Ages as a social order. In feudalism, people living in the medieval time period were divided into different classes. The pope was at the top of the pyramid. This is because the pope was the head of the church. Religion played a huge role in the Middle Ages. Owning property was also significant during the Middle Ages. The more land one owned, the higher up they would be in society.
Below the pope were the Kings and Queens. They were the head of the countries and ruled over everyone else. Below the Kings and Queens were the Lords and Ladies. They were in charge of specific land called manors. The manor that they lived on was very big and the Serfs and Peasants did most of the work
on the manor such as farming the plants and raising livestock. The next section of the feudalism pyramid was where the knights and Vassals were. A vassal was a person who protected the medieval citizens in return for a fief. A fief was when a Noble, or a Lord or Lady gave a Vassal land in return for protection against enemies. The knights were in this section mainly because they protected the medieval people just like the Vassals did. The knights were expected to follow the code of chivalry. This was an extremely important part of being a knight. The code of chivalry was a code the knights had to follow that stated all knights should act gentlemanly and be courteous to others. The last section of the medieval pyramid happened to be the most populated. The last section included the Serfs and Peasants. They did the most work on the manor. Unlike the Vassals who got rewarded for helping the Nobles, the Serfs and Peasants did not get anything in return for doing the majority of the work on the manor. But the peasants did get a place to live. Their houses usually were one room that had clay walls and a straw roof. The Serfs were not allowed to leave the manor unless they had permission from the Lord or Lady. This rule also applied with Serfs getting married. If a Serf wished to get married but the Noble denied the Serf could not get married. Overall feudalism not only had a huge impact on the medieval people but had a huge impact on the life that people all over the world live today.