Feudalism was a loosely organized system of rule where powerful lords divided land among lesser lords, granting land and protection in exchange for military service and loyalty; nobles or lords owned land, fought wars as knights, and built castles for defense, while serfs or peasants lived and worked on manors, pledged work on the lord's land several days a week in exchange for their own plots of land and the lord's protection.

1. FEUDALISM

2. Main Ideas What is feudalism? What is life like as a noble or lord? What is life like as a peasant?

3. What is feudalism? Loosely organized system of rule in which a powerful lord divided land to lesser lords A lord granted a land and protection to a vassal A vassal pledged 40 days of military service a year, certain payments, and loyalty

4. The Feudal Pyramid

5. What is life like as a Noble? Nobles or lords owned land given to them by the king Warfare was a way of life, so most had trained as knights Castles were built to withstand attack

6. What is life like as a serf? Lived and worked on the manor Serfs could not leave the manor without the lord’s permission They worked several days on the lord’s land; in exchange, they received their own land and protection Produced almost everything needed for the manor

7. Review What did a lord give a vassal? How many days of military service did a vassal pledge? Why were castles built? What did the peasants receive in return for their work on the manor?