![]() ![]() Across 1.Ī member of a class of low social status that depends on agricultural labour as a means of subsistence Define these concepts: FEUDALISM VASSAL FIEF HOMAGE SERF 2. ![]() Peasants had to spend time every week working the lord’s land and even had to ask permission to leave the fief. It was common for a peasant to have a small plot of land on which to grow food for himself and his family. Most peasants were serfs who were ‘owned’ by the knights. The knights also provided for law and order and justice through the courts. The vast majority of people were peasants who worked directly for the knights, who paid rents and taxes to him and who fought for him in time of war. Again in return for fiefs, the vassals made promises, the most important of which was to serve the lord as a soldier of 40 days a year. The lord also had vassals who were called knights. The nobles also included powerful members of the church such as bishops, because the church was one of the most important medieval This meant that the nobles promised never to go to war against the king and to provide the king with money, soldiers, accommodation or advice (counsel) when needed. Homage consisted of the vassal surrendering himself to the lord, symbolized by his kneeling and giving his joined hands to the lord, who clasped them inĪccepting the surrender. Vassals and swore an oath of loyalty and paid homage to him. In return for the fiefs, the lords or nobles became The king gave his lands and fiefs to important lords. Chosen by God, the king had a ‘divine right’ to rule. At the top of the feudal system was the king. The feudal system enabled kings to keep control of their lands by contracting others to do the controlling for them. The feudal system was a social, economic and political system that was found throughout Western Europe in the Medieval Ages. To do so, they granted lands to the lords beneath them. Even though kings had little power, they were still kings, and on occasion they needed to raise an army, as did dukes and nobles. Feudal arrangements involved kings, powerful lords, and lesser nobles. ![]() At the heart of the system were personal arrangements between two parts. With no strong kings to maintain law and order, people turned to local lords for help. The cause was the people’s need for protection. The lack of a central government led to the development of the feudal system. Matters were made even worse by the regular invasions of the Vikings. But when Charlemagne died, his grandsons were unable to keep his empire together. During his long reign, there was stability in western Europe. ![]()
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