The End of Feudalism

The End of Feudalism

Mr. Boswell & Mr. Jackson

Open Ended

New Unit Opening Thought: Is change always good?

See, Think, Wonder: The Feudal Manor

Open Ended

See: What are two things you see?

Open Ended

Think: What is one thing you are thinking about when you look at this picture?

Open Ended

Wonder: What is one thing you wonder about when looking at this picture?

What is feudalism?

• The main social system in Europe during the medieval period

• There were four main groups of people:

• The King

• Nobles (Lords)

• Knights

• Peasants

Multiple Choice

Who was at the top of the feudal pyramid?

• Peasants

• Nobles

• King

• Knight

How did feudalism work?

• The king gave lands to the nobles who promised to provide the king with soldiers and supplies if there was a war.

• The nobles gave some land to knights who promised to serve the nobles and protect the manor.

• Peasants worked the fields and provided food for the nobles and knights, who protected them.

Multiple Choice

What did the nobles provide for the peasants in feudalism?

• Money

• Protection

• Service in their armies

• McDoubles

Feudalism: It's all about who you know

• For people in feudal Europe, life was about who you owed.

• Some knights were vassals to more than one noble or even directly to the king.

• Some nobles had lesser nobles underneath them.

• Many kings couldn't do anything without the nobles.

Multiple Choice

What is a word that means to pledge allegiance or support for someone?

• Serfdom

• Vassal

• Archon

• Dictator

Types of Poor Workers

• Peasants: Free people who would work different jobs

• Serfs: Stuck to that particular manor, worked fields

• It was better to be a peasant, but still a rough life!

Multiple Choice

What was the main difference between serfs and peasants?

• Serfs had to work the fields for all their lives, peasants only for ten years.

• Peasants had to have at least three children, serfs at least five.

• Peasants were free to leave the land, serfs were stuck to that manor.

• Serfs could have other jobs, while peasants only worked the fields.

The End of Feudalism

• What happened to feudalism?

• Two things ended it in western Europe:

• The rise of cities and towns

• The Black Death

Multiple Select

What ended feudalism? (Choose two)

• The spread of war during the Crusades

• The growth of cities and towns

• The large loss of life during the Black Death

• The return of ancient Roman values.

• The start of the Thirty Years' War

How did the rise of cities end feudalism?

• In the cities, the rules of feudal society didn't work.

• As cities got bigger, more people become middle class.

• Shopkeepers, merchants and craftsmen didn't fit into the feudal pyramid.

• There were now people who were getting rich without land.

Multiple Choice

Why did cities lead to the end of feudalism?

• Many manors grew into cities and stopped farming

• Some peasants revolted and moved to cities.

• Many serfs died when they moved to cities.

• Cities had new jobs that were not part of the feudal pyramid.

How did the Black Death end feudalism?

• The Black Death killed 40-60% of Europeans.

• Many nobles and peasants died.

• Those peasants that lived were in high demand as fields were not being worked.

Multiple Choice

How did the Black Death lead to the end of feudalism?

• The Black Death led to many African merchants moving to Europe.

• The Black Death ended the Crusades, leading to less war.

• The Black Death killed so many peasants that those who were left had more choices in where to work.

• The Black Death killed the kings and nobles, so there was no one to rule over the peasants.

Peasants moving on up!

• Many peasants realized that other nobles would pay more to have them work in their fields.

• All over western Europe, peasants began making a bit more money and having more freedom and choices.

Multiple Select

Because of the end of feudalism, what changes did peasants experience? (Choose all that apply)

• Their wages went up.

• Serfs received freedom

• Peasants had more chances to move to other places.

• Cities collapsed.

Open Ended

Exit Ticket Question #1: What two things ended feudalism?

Open Ended

Exit Ticket Question #2: What is the difference between a peasant and a serf?

Open Ended

Exit Ticket Question #3: What are the four levels of the feudal pyramid? (Hint: Kings are at the top!)