Middle Ages

1. Middle Ages
Mr. Stephens 7th Grade Class
This presentation was adapted from Ken Voorhis,
http://www.vcsd.k12.ny.us/cms/lib/NY24000141/Centricity/Domain/941/Feudalism%202.ppt

2. Medieval Society
King/Monarch-
Ruler of all the land.
Nobility-
Given land by the king.
Knights and Vassals-
Protects Noble’s land in exchange for
fiefs.
Merchants (Farmers, Craftsmen,
Peasants, and Surfs)-
Majority of the population.
Worked the Noble’s land and served
Nobles by providing foods and services.

3. Medieval Society Cont…
• What are the levels of the feudal
society and how Are they different
from each other?
• Fill our the chart and record your
answers in your guided notes.

4. Feudalism
How did Feudalism Develop?
-Feudalism developed because of
multiple invasions from Western
Europe.
-Feudalism was a way for the Nobility
to protect their lands.
How did the Nobles Protect their land?
-They divided up their land into areas
called fiefs and gave them to knights in
exchange for their loyalty and
protection.

5. Fiefs and Vassals
-A knight was paid for their services
with land from the lords they served.
-The land the Knight received is called
a fief.
-Anyone who accepted a Fief from a
lord was called a vassal.

6. Manor System
- An economic system in the Middle
Ages which relied on the relationship
between large estates (manors) and
the village that surrounded it.
- Manors were self sufficient. They
produced goods the people living on
the manor needed to survive.

7. Manor System Cont…
Serfs-
-Lived and worked on their lord’s
manor.
-Were bound to their lords land.
-Lived a brutal lifestyle. Many didn’t
live pas the age 35 because of the
harsh living conditions they were
forced to live in.
-Being a serf was based on heredity.
-If your parents were serfs
then you are a surf too.

8. Knighthood
Page-
-Began training at age 7.
-Was sent to another lords castle to learn
manners, chess, and war strategies.
-Began training with a sword.
Squire-
-Began training at age 14.
-Would act as a servant to a knight by
taking care of his armor, weapons, and
horse.
-Would escort the knight to battles.
Knight-
-Becomes knight at age 21.
-Were told to abide by a code of conduct
known as chivalry.
-Participated in tournaments on
horseback in an activity called jousting.
Chivalry-
A code of conduct that expected knights
to be brave, loyal, truthful, and protective
of women and those weaker than them.

9. Chivalry
• What does it mean when a knight is
chivalrous? What are his mannerisms
like?
• Write your response in your guided
notes.

10. Knights vs. Serfs
-Think-Pair-Share with your partner
whether you would want to be a Knight
or a Serf during the middle ages and
why.
-Be sure to write down your answers in
your guided notes.

11. Coat of Arms
-An artistic work which a knight wore
on their armor into tournaments and
battles.
-Bearing a Coat of Arms was the only
way a knight could enter a
tournament.
-It establishes a knight as nobility in
society and will be passed along in the
knight’s family for many generations.

12. Coat of Arms Cont…
-Think-Pair-Share with your partner
about what the Middle Age Coat of
Arms represents.
-Write down your answers in your
guided notes.
-Create your own personalized Coat of
Arms.