3. VOCABULARY
Vassalage: vasallaje
Lord: señor
Bishop: obispo
Abbot: abad
Domesne: dominio
Tenements: tenecia
Act of homage: acto de homenaje o
investidura
Fairs: ferias
4. THE ORIGIN OF THE FEUDALISM
Between 9th and 10th centuries, Vikings,
Magyars and Muslims attacked and
invaded Western Europe generating a
crisis and showing weaknesses in the
monarchy.
Kings couldn´t collect taxes.
Couldn´t protect the population
Couldn´t maintain a loyal army.
For that reason, the kings needed help
from nobles.
5. FEUDALISM
Political, economic and social system that
existed in Western Europe from the 10th
to 13th centuries.
ORIGIN:
It consisted on a combination of legal and
military support between nobles and the
king. In exchange, he gave them land and
power. That´s the beginning of vassalage
and his vassals.
6. VASSALAGE BETWEEN THE KING AND THE
NOBLE
The noble had to give advice, loyalty and
economic and military help, with his money
and private armies.
In exchange, the king gave him a fief: a
portion of land.
Fief: lands granted by a feudal lord to his
vassal to provide him with a source of
income in exchange for his loyalty and
services. The vassal was the leader of the
fief socially, economically and politically.
They became feudal lords, very powerful.
7. ¿WHAT´S HAPPENED TO THE PEASANTS?
The peasants felt unsafe, because the
king couldn´t protect them.
They turned to the nobles for protection
against possible attacks. They were afraid
of the invaders: Vikings, Magyars and
Muslims.
They worked in the fiefs of the nobles,
and in exchange, they received safety and
part of the crops.
