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Feudal System Facts & Worksheets

The Feudal System that existed in Medieval Western Europe was a socio-political and economic system identified by a king’s ownership and distribution of lands to his loyal nobles.

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The Feudal System that existed in Medieval Western Europe was a socio-political and economic system identified by a king’s ownership and distribution of lands to his loyal nobles.

See the fact file below for more information on the Feudal System or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Feudal System worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGIN OF FEUDALISM

  • The general notion of ruling based on land distribution and loyal was used in number of civilizations prior to the Middle Ages. Between 1046 and 256 BCE, the Zhou period of China and Edo period of Japan from 1603 until 1868 were under this kind of system.
  • It was only in the Middle Ages when the term ‘feudalism’ was coined to define this socio-political society. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, feudalism refers to the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which nobility held lands from the crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord’s land.
  • Etymologically, ‘feudalism’ was derived from the Latin terms feudalis and feodum, which respectively mean fee and fief.
  • When the Germanic tribes invaded most territories of the Roman Empire, the Franks, one of the kingdoms, were able to manage lands through appointing earls, barons, or counts.
  • In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, held all lands in England after he successfully defeated King Harold II. Among his first step was the seizure of all English land. While distributing much of the land to loyal nobles who supported him in battles, William the Conqueror retained 20% for personal use and the rest for the church.
  • In Frankish states by the 8th century, a king granted benefice or lands to reward members of the nobility in return of service. Moreover, the manorial system imposed in Medieval England had its roots with the Romans in which workers were provided with protection while living on large estates.

NATURE OF FEUDALISM IN ENGLAND

  • At the top of a feudal society was a king. In 1066, William the Conqueror became the King of England and held all lands under his control. To repay loyal nobles, he granted them lands. They became the monarch’s vassals who would in return give him loyalty and service.
  • As tenants of lands, nobles would need military service from knights to protect the crown, again acquired by giving off lands. In the later years of the Medieval period, knights and members of the nobility paid scutage instead of military service.
  • Under-tenants who were members of the church and the mobility then granted lands to peasants in exchange for labour or rent. Peasants were categorized into serfs, villeins, freemen, and yeoman.
  • To seal the relationship of the lord and vassal, acts of homage were conducted in which the receiver of the land or fief would swear to protect his lord, whilst protect his vassal as well.
  • A fief was composed of number of manors or blocks of farmlands. A manor consisted of a demesne land or land under the direct control of the lord, dependent land, or lands cultivated by serfs, and free lands rented by yeomen.

EFFECTS AND END OF FEUDALISM

  • Among the main consequences of feudalism in Europe was the existence of localized groups who owed loyalty to lords who specifically held power over them.
  • Given that fiefs were hereditary in nature, class divide among the nobility and peasants became permanent.
  • Moreover, monarchs gained political favors from the nobles with the use of lands. A monarch could distance a noble from the court through land as well.
  • In 1215, the feudal system under King John of England caused the Barons’ Revolt, which later led to the signing of the Magna Carta.
  • The feudal system was generally a relationship of reciprocal aid which was weakened by time. Events such as the Black Death, or spread of bubonic plague, resulted in the decline of Europe’s population. As a result, estates were abandoned.
  • Payment of scutage among nobles also weakened the system. Instead of military service, they paid coins, while the crown paid mercenaries to protect them and join in campaigns. Another effect of the system of coinage, instead of the crown distributing lands, was that money was paid as a reward for loyalty.
  • In 1095, the birth of the Crusades led European Christians to go to foreign lands in search of fortune, in addition to the religious cause.

Feudal System Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about The Feudal System across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Feudal System worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Feudal System that existed in Medieval Western Europe was a socio-political and economic system identified by a king’s ownership and distribution of lands to his loyal nobles.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  • The Feudal System Facts
  • The Feudal Structure
  • Lands the Medieval Way
  • William Conquered England
  • Feudal Terms
  • Medieval Dictionary
  • Feudal Society
  • Rise and Decline
  • The Peasantry
  • Medieval Narrative
  • Point of View

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Link will appear as Feudal System Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 16, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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