Feudalism Vocabulary Flashcards
King
The person at the top of the Feudal Pyramid.
Lord
The men of the manor that used the Manorial System. They also had the majority of the power until the decline of the Feudal World.
Knight
Soldiers who protected the manor for land in return. They also had to follow the Code of Chivalry.
Peasant
Residents who paid to farm and own land. They also have some rights, unlike the serfs.
Serf
They worked directly for the lord/noble and were guaranteed protection. People who didn’t have many rights, and they had to ask to do things.
Manorial System
The relationship between Lords and Peasants. The Peasants had to do their work/services for land in return from the Lords.
Fief
An agreement which the people and the physical land was granted to a vassal for service.
Manor
The land ruled by the King/Lords. It includes important buildings like churches, fields, & wind and water mills.
Vassals
A resident who served a of in a high rank on the Feudal Pyramid.
Code of Chivalry
The list of rules Knights were ordered to follow, and if they didn’t, they were punished.
Fallow
A field that is left empty or doesn’t have anything planted on it during crop rotation.
Decline of Feudalism
- Towns & Cities -> Increased Trade -> Government Reorganization
- Increased trade from the Crusades
- Land-based economy to money-based
- Kings lessened the power of the nobles (Nation-States developed)
Magna Carta
The important document that states that everyone has rights and it also stated that Kings have limited power.
Nation States
An area with a government, and people who shares a cultural trait/experience.
