Feudalism and Rise of Towns in the Middle Ages

What is a feudalism?

• A type of government where power is held by a single person
• A system where land is given in exchange for service or loyalty
• A form of economic system based on private ownership
• A political system where power is divided among several entities

Who gave out titles and land in exchange for loyalty (and military service) in feudal Europe?

• Millers

• Knights

• Monarchs/Kings

• Serfs

Is this a fief or medieval town?

• fief

• medieval town

Is this a fief or a town?

• medieval town

• fief

On a social hierarchy pyramid for feudal Europe,

Click on where you would put Peasants & Serfs?

On a social hierarchy pyramid for feudal Europe,

Click where you would put monarchs/kings?

On a social hierarchy pyramid for feudal Europe,

Click where you would put Lords & Ladies?

Which groups grew more powerful towards the end of the middle ages as agricultural surplus lead to an increase in trade and towns grew larger?

• lords

• merchants and guilds

• peasants and serfs

• knights

When a king gave a medieval royal charter to a town,

what did this mean for that town?

• they were no longer allowed to build more houses in their town

• the right to govern themselves and tax themselves

• they had to return to a fief for three months out of the year to provide labor

• they had to go on a crusade for the king

What did a medieval town have that fiefs did not?

• councils and guilds

• craftspeople and farmers

• millers and bakers

• weavers and tanners