Dark & Middle Ages

Aim: What event led to the term Dark Ages and Why was Feudalism important during the middle ages?

Do Now: Front Side of Feudalism Worksheet Below

The Middle Ages were a dark age for Europe. Near constant invasions and scant resources required that Europeans develop a new system for living. This system included all aspects of life, social, political, and economic. It was called Feudalism.

Feudalism & Manorialism

Feudalism was a social, political, and economic system that dominated all aspects of medieval life. The economic portion of feudalism was centered around the lord's estates or manor, and is called manorialism. A lord's manor would include peasant villages, a church, farm land, a mill, and the lord's castle or manor house.

Manors were self sufficient; all economic activity occurred on the manor. This meant that little to no trade occurred during this time period. Most of the peasants during the Middle Ages were serfs. Serfs were generally farmers who were tied to the land. They were not slaves because they could not be bought or sold, but they could not readily leave the manor either. Serfs were given land to farm in exchange for service to their lord. This service usually involved working the lord's fields, maintaining roads and the manor, and providing military service in times of war. Serfs paid taxes to their lord in the form of crops. This is also how the paid the fee to use the manor's mill or other services.

The lords had responsibilities also under this system. In return for the service and fees paid by the peasants, they provided land and protection to them. Lords also had to pay fees and give service to high lords and the king. Feudalism affected all levels of society.

Kings
- Give large land grants to Upper Lords called fiefs
- Give Protection
- Receives money, military service, and advice
Upper Lords / Vassals / Nobels
- Give land grants to Lesser Lords
- Give Protection
- Receives money, military service
Knights
- Give land to peasants/serfs
- Receives crops, labor
Merchants / Craftsmen
- Provided Specialized Goods to the Knights / Nobels / Lords
Peasants / Serfs
- Receives land to farm
- Pays with labor, crops

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: Middle Ages - Feudalism & Manorialism

Lesson Activity: Feudalism Worksheet

Homework: Assignments