Feudalism emerged in Europe in the 9th century after the fall of the Carolingian Empire. Kings granted lands and authority to nobles in exchange for military support. This led to the rise of a feudal system where society was divided into estates. Nobles received fiefs divided into demesne and holdings. Peasants lived on these lands and paid rents and taxes. Feudal relationships were based on oaths of loyalty between lords and vassals. Feudalism shaped politics, society, and the arts during the Middle Ages in Europe.

1. Unit 4:Feudalism

2. 1) Draw a concept map of the unit.

3. Feudalism is a political, economic and social system
that appeared in Europe after the death of
Charlemagne in the 9th century (IX century)
2) What and when? (What is it and when did it appear?)
3) Why did it appear?
It appeared because of:
The internal fights that took place in the Carolingian
empire.
The attacks of the Vikings (from the north)
The attacks of the Magyars (from Asia and Central
Europe)
The attacks of the Barbary pirates (from the south)

6. Batalla Meseburgo o de Riade (933). La caballería del rey Enrique derrota a los
magiares: 1 jefe magiar; 2 jinete germano; 3 jinete lotaroingio; 4 jinete
provenzal; 5 jinete bábaro. Autor Wayne Reynolds

7. Barbary pirates (piratas berberiscos)

8. Vicious circle of feudalism
Weak
monarchs
Monarchs asked for help to
nobles and their private
armies
Nobles received in
exchange fiefdoms
(land and power)
Creation of
feudalism
Nobles became
more powerful
The
origin of
Feudalis
m

9. Kings asked for military help to the local nobles who in
exchange received lands and power.
As a consequence, nobles became more powerful and kings
weaker.
4) In what consisted feudalism?
5) What was a fiefdom?
The fiefdom was a large territory that was given by
the King to the Lords.
The Lords were the main authority, they collected
taxes and imparted justice.
(Extra Inf: the fiefdoms were the centre of the economic activity).

10. The two parts were:
The demesne: this was the land owned
directly by the lord. It was near the castle.
It usually had farmlands and a forest. Serfs
worked here.
The holdings: they were lands that the lord
rented out to peasants. Free peasants worked
these lands in exchange of part of the
harvest and personal labour.
6) In what two parts was the fiefdom divided?

11. • The lord received taxes from renting the lands. It
usually was a part of the harvest.
• He also received personal labour as part of that rent.
• He also received taxes for using the mill, the oven,
the bridges, the forest, the prairies, the press …
Extra inf: what taxes and rents did the
Lord collect from the fiefdom?

12.  Extra activity: Draw a map of a fiefdom.
 It must include the main elements, (castle,
demesne, holding, forest, prairies, farmland,
village, church, mill, oven, press, bridge…)

13. Feudal Society

14. Feudal society was divided in estates. An estate
(estamento) was a social group that was determined by
birth, except for the clergy (clero).
There were three social groups that were:
• Nobility: who fought and defended the feudal
society.
• Clergy: who prayed for the salvation of humanity.
• Commoners or third estate or villains: who
worked for maintaining the other two estates.
7) Explain the main characteristics of
the feudal society.

15. The privileged groups were the nobility and clergy.
They owned the land, they didn’t pay taxes and they
had access to certain political positions.
8) Who were the privileged groups and what
were their privileges?

16. Nobility

17. Tournament or Joust

18. It is a relationship between a King (or a lord) and a
vassal (only nobles). This relationship is confirmed
through a ceremony called homage ceremony.
9) Explain the king-vassal relationship
Nobility
Extra inf:
• The vassal promised to give the King (or lord)
military help.
• The King (or the lord) gave to the vassal a
fiefdom (that will provide sustenance)

19. Feudal Relations
LORD
VASSAL
economic aid
counsel
military
protection
legal
defence
sustenance
military
aid

20. Nobles Hierarchy
• King
• Duke
• Marquess
• Earl
• Viscount
• Baron
• Knight

21. The homage ceremony was a official ceremony that
was composed of two parts (homenaje e investidura):
 The act of homage: the vassal knelt before the
King (or lord) and he placed his hands into those of
the king (or lord) and accepted to be his vassal.
 The investiture: The king (or lord) gave to the
vassal a symbol that represented the fiefdom that
he had granted to him.
Homage ceremony(extra inform.)

23. Don’t forget to mention the
following elements:
• Keep or homage tower
(torre de homenaje)
• Towers (torres)
• Moat (foso)
• Bailey (patio de armas)
• Well (pozo)
• Stables, blacksmith,
workshops…
10) Activity: Draw the floor plan of a castle.

24.  Higher clergy: they were the clergymen that held
higher positions, such as the Pope, the cardinals,
the bishops, the abbots and abbesses (abades y
abadesas).
 Lower clergy: they were the lesser clergy, like
priests, monks and nuns, who lived in poverty.
11) Explain the two types of clergy that
existed.
Clergy
Extra inf:
• They usually lived in monasteries following a rule, that was
a document that established their vows or obligations.
• The most famous rule was the Benedictines (rule of Saint
Benedict)

25. They wore black habits and
took vows of poverty,
obedience and celibacy.
They were governed by the
principles of “ora et labora”.
12) Tell me some characteristics of the
Benedictines.
It was a tax that the
Church received from the
commoners/peasants. It
consisted of the tenth part
of the harvest.
13) What was the tithe
(diezmo)?

28.  Villeins or free peasants (villanos o campesinos
libres): they were peasants that were free. They
could live where they wanted and even leave the
fiefdom if they wanted.
 Serfs (siervos): they were peasants that were not
free. They were tied (attached) to the land. They
were not slaves because they couldn’t be sold or
killed. The lord provided (owed) protection and
justice. They transmitted their condition to their
children.
14) Explain the two types of peasants that
existed.
Peasants

29. The king ruled with the Curia Regis (Curia Regia).
It was a council or institution where the nobles and
high clergy advised the king and helped him to govern.
15) Explain how the kingdom was ruled.
Politics
Extra inf:
The monarchy was considered a sacred institution
because the kings were chosen by God.

30. Artistic Legacy -Romanesque

31. Romanesque is an artistic style. It appeared in Europe in
the 11th century and lasted till the 13th century.
It received that name because it was inspired in Roman
art. Because of that they used cut stone and the Roman
arch (arco de medio punto)
16) Explain what is Romanesque, where it appeared
and why it received that name.
17) Tell me some architectural elements.
Some architectural elements are: Roman arch (arco de
medio punto), buttresses (contrafuertes), barrel vaults
(Bóveda de cañón), pillars (pilar), columns, towers, domes
(Cúpula), windows…

32. Buttress
Barrel vault
Roman arch

33. 18) Draw the floor plan of a cathedral

35.  The figures were unrealistic and inexpressive.
 The figures don’t express feelings and
communication.
 They were also rigid and static.
 They used bright colours
 Eyes and hands were emphasized
 The paintings and sculptures had an educational
and religious purpose
 There is no perspective, no backgrounds, no
landscape.
 They used the hierarchical perspective.
19) Explain some characteristics of
Romanesque painting and sculpture

36. Christ Pantocrator.
Fresco of San Clemente de Tahull

37. Virgen de Ger, Cataluña, siglo XII
Cristo crucificado en majestad o
Majestad Batlló

38. Pórtico del Paraíso, Catedral de Orense. (Relief in the main façade).