1. The document provides definitions and explanations of key terms related to feudalism such as hierarchy, Charlemagne, knight, lord, serf, and Christianity. 2. It discusses the roles and responsibilities of different classes in the feudal system including monarchs, lords/vassals, knights, and peasants. Peasants in particular were heavily taxed. 3. The document presents the student's opinion that feudalism worked in England by restoring order during invasions and creating a system to obtain money, but lacked social mobility between classes.

1. Lesson 2 Study Guide
Review

2. 1. hierarchy
I: A system of organizing people into ranks, with those
of higher rank having more power and privileges.

3. 2. Charlemagne
M: Leader of the Franks from 768 to 814 CE, who
unified most of the Christian lands of Europe into a
single empire.

4. 3. survive
C: to continue to exist

5. 4. Feudalism
H: The economic and political system that developed
in Europe during the Middle Ages.

6. 5. knight
L: An armored warrior...usually on horseback.

7. 6. monarch
K: A ruler, such as a king or queen.

8. 7. chivalry
A: The medieval knights’ code of behavior

9. 8. fief
D: Land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for
loyalty and service.

10. 9. function
E: The use or purpose of something

11. 10. reign
F: The period of time during which a king or other
monarchs rules

12. 11. lord
B: A ruler or a powerful landowner

13. 12. serf
G: A peasant who could not leave the lord’s land on
which he/she was born and worked.

14. 13. Christianity
J: A religion based on the life of Jesus Christ.

15. 14. Using Einhard article given to you in class, write a well thought out explanation
how Einhard viewed Charlemagne as a leader. Use details from the article to help
make a strong statement.
Answers will vary.
My Opinion: Einhard had great admiration towards Charlemagne
as a person as well as father. Einhard noted in his article that
Charlemagne had the gift of ready and fluent speech, and could
express whatever he had to say with the utmost clearness. This
statement tells me that Charlemagne thought carefully of not
only his speech, but how he was going to say it which is an
excellent quality for a leader. Einhard also stated that
Charlemagne was a great protector of his children and would
often keep them close to him and have meals with them every
day. I could envision that Charlemagne must act the same way
towards his troops/advisors in a leadership role.

16. 15. How many acres were usually given to a
lord/vassal?
A lord would get anywhere between 1200 to 1800
acres of land.

17. 16. What is the role of the
monarch?
A Monarch is expected to keep order and to provide
protection for his/her vassals. Vassals are the
monarch’s most important lords and the monarch
gives pieces of land to these lords in return for
protection IF the monarch gets into trouble.

18. 17. What is the role of a
lord/vassal?
It was the lord’s responsibility to manage and defend
his land.
The lord made sure that everyone within his land
were doing their jobs.
Also acted as a judge.

19. 18. What is the role of a
knight?
Knights were expected to be loyal to their church and
their lord, to be just and fair, and to protect the
helpless.
Knights main role was to train to fight.

20. 19. What is the role of a
peasant?
The peasants were required to work the land so this
freed up the lords and knights to prepare for war or
fighting.

21. 20. Reviewing these terms: head money, tallage, merchet. How do these terms
define a peasant’s life on a feudal manor?
Head money: Yearly Tax which was the same for
every person.
Tallage: A tax that the lord can demand if the lord
needed money.
Merchet: This is a tax when a woman married, this tax
was paid by the bride’s father or her husband.
My opinion: These terms tell me that the peasants
were heavily taxed and that they were expected to
give the lord not only a payment in physical labor, but
also their payment in taxes as well.

22. 21. Label the feudal hierarchy.
Monarch
(King/Queen)
Lords/Nobles
Knights
Peasants

23. 22. What does this picture tell you about
feudalism?
This picture displays
feudalism to me
because it shows how a
vassal (lesser lord) is
showing loyalty and
respect to the higher
lord or monarch.
Loyalty and respect are
two qualities that are
definitely needed in the
feudal system.

24. 23. Do you believe that feudalism worked in England?
Explain your answer with details from your notes in order
to make a strong statement.
Answers will vary.
My Opinion: Feudalism worked in England because it
restored order during a time when there were many
hostile invasions and it created a system of obtaining
money at every level of the feudal hierarchy. The only
thing that was not ideal about the feudal system was
the lack of advancement within the classes. It was
unfortunate that many people stayed within their own
social class their entire lives without hope of moving
up the feudal ladder.