4


DiScOvErInG HiStOrY


1. Provide money for the king. 2. Protect and fight for the king. To do this the noble provided knights (professional soldiers on horseback) if the king went to war.


3. Provide hospitality in his demesne (home – pronounced de-main) to the king and his many followers if he came to visit.


These nobles, who were often earls and bishops, then rented some of their land to lesser nobles (e.g. barons and knights). These lesser nobles promised to fight for the earl or bishop whenever he asked. Therefore the noble became overlord to the knights and barons. With the money and knights he got from renting his land, he was able to pay the king.


Peasants (poor farmers) lived on the knight’s or baron’s land. They worked for him and paid rent and taxes to him.


This meant that the peasants were at the bottom of this pyramid. They had to work for the knight so he could pay the noble so he could pay the king.


✣ By the way


The vassal had to kneel down in front of the king and swear, ‘I will be your man from this day onwards’. The French for man is ‘homme’ which is where we get the word homage from.


gave soldiers and money to


King


rented land to


Nobility (earls and bishops)


Nobility (earls and bishops) rented land to


gave soldiers and money to


Lesser nobles (knights and barons)


Peasants, serfs and freemen lived on land and paid taxes to barons and knights.


Fig 4.5 A diagram of feudal society


RECALL 1 . Explain the following words: (a) Vassal (b) Demesne (c) Homage


2. List the four levels within the feudal system.


3. Who were known as nobles?


4 Why do you think the Middle Ages were also called the Dark Ages?


84


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