Wiki Page, A3: World Geography and Civilizations, term 1-1: Feudalism in Europe

Wiki Page
2013-10-21T10:37:11-06:00

Feudalism
Definition: The political and social system of medieval Europe, in which vassals received land from overlords in exchange for armed warriors and other services.
Context: Under feudalism, the overlords, lesser lords, knights and peasants all depended on one another for survival.

Manor
Consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and the surrounding farm land.

Fief
Definition: A grant of land given by a lord to a vassal in return for an oath of loyalty and armed warriors.
Context: In a formal ceremony, a monarch would give a noble a fief and promise to protect the noble.

Monarch
Definition: A king or queen who rules a territory, usually for life and by hereditary right
Context: Feudal society had a strict social order and the monarch was at the top.

Lord
Definition: In medieval Europe, a powerful landowner who ruled over an area.
Context: Even though they were below the king, local lords controlled most peoples’ lives.

Vassal
Definition: Someone who lives on the lord’s land, providing loyalty in return for protection.
Context: Through this “feudal contract,” the noble became the vassal of a king or queen.

Noble
Definition: Somebody of aristocracy or a high social rank
Context: Nobles, safe inside their castles, were able to build up their armies and expand their power.

Knight
Definition: In medieval Europe, a soldier of high military rank
Context: The most skilled soldiers were knights, who dedicated their lives to combat, a code of behavior called chivalry, and service to their lords.

Peasant
Definition: A member of the lowest feudal class; poor, uneducated laborers who lived and worked on the land owned by the nobles.
Context: The peasants were the economic backbone of society, growing the crops and producing the other goods that everyone needed.