Medieval writers divided people into three groups: ●● Those who fought ●● Those who worked and ●● Those who prayed
Identify the medieval people. Who fought? Who worked? Who prayed?
KING
Medieval society King
gave land to the baron
Gave
soldiers to the king
Who gave land to the knights
BARONS AND BISHOPS Gave
soldiers to the barons
Who gave land to the peasants
KNIGHTS Gave services
to their lord/ knight
The feudal system Land was very important in the Middle Ages, as it meant wealth and power. The ownership and control of land was organised through feudalism or the feudal system. In medieval times, all the land was owned by the king. He needed help controlling and defending it. He got the help from his most powerful subjects – barons (lords) and bishops. He kept some land for his own use and gave the rest to the barons and bishops – who were his tenants-in-chief. There was a ceremony for handing over the land (or
fief, as it was called). The lord who was receiving the land knelt before the king and placed his hands in the hands of the king. He swore an oath to become a vassal of the king. ‘I will be your man from this day onwards. I shall be true and faithful to you for the lands I hold from you.’ The lord also promised:
●● To fight for the king and provide him with knights PEASANTS (VILLAGERS) The feudal system
The barons and bishops gave land to the knights who promised: ● ● To fight for their lords and obey them
The knights were given manors, that is, villages with land around them. Knights kept some of the land for their own private use – this land was called the demesne. They divided the rest amongst their tenants, who were called peasants or farmers.
