and nobles agreed to supply the king with soldiers and horses for his army.
Food In return, these
knights fought for nobles and the king.
Food
KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS) Protection
Farm the land Pay rent Shelter
Peasants worked the land for the nobles and
knights who in turn offered them protection.
PEASANTS (SERFS)
After the fall of Rome, there was no single strong ruler in Europe. Warfare was constant and people looked to local leaders for protection. The stronger rulers came to control more and more territory and became kings. They organised society under the feudal system.
Feudalism was the system of land ownership where rulers divided land among their followers in return for loyalty and taxes. These followers were called nobles or vassals and were given land (called a fi ef). They swore an oath of fealty to the king, promising to fi ght for him, provide him with troops and pay him taxes. Those nobles then gave some of their land to knights, who swore to be loyal and fi ght for them. Knights then looked after the peasants (serfs and freemen) on this land.
CHECKPOINT!
1. Explain the following terms: vassals; fi ef; oath of fealty. 2. Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the feudal system.
.
I can explain the feudal system.
TIME TO GO BACK I CAN MOVE FORWARD
LORDS (VASSALS TO KING) Protection
Homage Military service Loyalty Military aid
The nobles gave some land to
professional soldiers. Feudalism pyramid Shelter
made the laws – he gave an area of land called a a fief to rich lords and nobles.
topic, you will learn about:
How society was organised within the feudal system.
The Bayeux Tapestry
WORKING WITH THE EVIDENCE! —————————————
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Look at the image of Norman soldiers on horseback and English soldiers on foot. List the different types of weapons and armour you can see. Which group do you think won the battle? Explain why.
