William of Normandy, also known as William the Conqueror, needed a new way to govern England after he took control. Since he often spent time in France, he required a strong system to manage the country while he was away. William invested a lot in keeping control over his lands, funding military campaigns, and building castles. A dependable group of soldiers was crucial to protect the country from threats.
To make these changes, William adapted some existing Anglo-Saxon systems, leading to the creation of the feudal system. When the Normans took over, they changed the way land was owned, creating a hierarchy with four levels. At the top was the king, followed by tenants-in-chief, which included about 200 Norman barons and bishops. Below them were knights or under-tenants, and at the bottom were peasants, sometimes called serfs or villains.
The king directly owned 20% of the land, 25% was owned by the church, and the rest was managed by the levels below. Borrowing land under this system was called holding land in tenure. If you held land this way, you were a vassal, and your superior was a lord.
Tenants-in-chief were the king’s closest allies, promising him money and an army. They provided soldiers and had to guard the king’s castles for forty days each year. Knights served in the army and protected both the tenants-in-chief and the peasants. In return, they received land and could be known as lords of the manor. They gave some of their land to peasants, who had to follow the lord’s rules. In exchange, peasants provided crops and worked on the lord’s land for a certain number of days without pay, known as labor service. While some peasants were free, most couldn’t leave the lord’s land without permission.
The feudal system worked well for those in higher positions. If a vassal didn’t fulfill their duties, the penalty was forfeiture, meaning the king would take back the land. There were formal ceremonies and contracts to remind vassals of their responsibilities. During these ceremonies, the vassal would kneel before the lord, bareheaded and without weapons, clasp their hands as if in prayer, and stretch them out to submit to the lord. The lord would then grasp the vassal’s hands and declare acceptance, followed by an oath of fealty, a promise to be faithful, which was considered a religious act. The church played a significant role in these matters, and it was believed that breaking the oath would result in divine punishment.
Changes in power and land ownership needed to be recorded and confirmed. In 1085, William started a detailed survey called the Domesday Survey. This survey was incredibly thorough and served as a record of land ownership across the country. It was completed in less than a year and documented who owned what throughout England.
The country was divided into seven circuits, and commissioners traveled to each area, asking questions about land ownership and changes from 1066 to 1085. Tenants-in-chief verified the information to ensure accuracy. Although the survey didn’t cover the entire country, it was a crucial part of Norman control and allowed William to charge rent and taxes more efficiently, helping to fund his army.
Despite not being able to read or speak English, William was very organized. His impact was so significant that at his funeral, his body couldn’t fit into the coffin, leading to an unfortunate incident due to the conditions.
Draw a diagram of the feudal system hierarchy. Start with the king at the top and work your way down to the peasants. Label each level and include a brief description of their roles and responsibilities. This will help you visualize how the system was structured and understand the relationships between different groups.
In groups, role-play a day in the life of different members of the feudal system. Assign roles such as king, tenant-in-chief, knight, and peasant. Act out a scene where each character performs their duties and interacts with others. This activity will give you a sense of the daily life and obligations of each role.
Conduct a mini-survey of your own. Choose a small area, like your classroom or neighborhood, and record who “owns” different items or spaces. Present your findings in a report, similar to the Domesday Book. This will help you understand the importance of record-keeping and how it was used to manage resources.
Participate in a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of the feudal system. Divide into two teams, with one arguing in favor of the system and the other against it. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments. This will help you develop critical thinking skills and understand different perspectives.
Write a short story from the perspective of a character living in the feudal system. Choose a role, such as a knight or peasant, and describe their daily life, challenges, and interactions with others. This creative exercise will help you empathize with people from the past and understand their experiences.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided transcript:
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William of Normandy, known as William the Conqueror, needed a new way of governing after he conquered England. He spent much of his time away, so he required a strong government system to manage affairs while he was in France. William the Conqueror invested significantly in maintaining control over his territories, funding military campaigns, and building castles. A reliable system of soldiers was essential to defend the country against threats.
To implement these changes, William continued some existing Anglo-Saxon systems, leading to the development of the feudal system.
When the Normans took control, they modified the existing hierarchy of land ownership to create the feudal system, which had four levels. At the top was the king, followed by tenants-in-chief, which included around 200 Norman barons and bishops. Below them were knights or under-tenants, and at the bottom were the peasants, sometimes referred to as serfs or villains. The king directly owned 20% of the land, 25% was owned by the church, and the rest was managed by the levels below. Borrowing land under this agreement was known as holding land in tenure. If you held land in tenure, you were called a vassal, and your feudal superior was a lord.
Tenants-in-chief were the closest and most loyal to the king, promising him money and an army. They provided soldiers and had a duty to garrison the king’s castles for forty days per year. Knights served in the army and protected the tenants-in-chief and the peasants. In return, they were granted land and could be known as lords of the manor. They would give a portion of their land to peasants, who had to obey the lord of the manor. In return, peasants provided crops and worked on the lord’s land for a certain number of days without pay, known as labor service. While some peasants were free, most could not leave the lord’s land without permission.
The feudal system worked well for those in higher positions. If a vassal failed to fulfill their obligations, the penalty was forfeiture, meaning the king would reclaim the land. There were formal ceremonies and contracts to remind vassals of their duties. During these ceremonies, the vassal would kneel before the lord, bareheaded and without weapons, clasp their hands as if in prayer, and stretch them out to submit to the lord. The lord would then grasp the vassal’s hands and declare acceptance, followed by an oath of fealty, a promise to be faithful, which was considered a religious act. The church played a significant role in these matters, and it was believed that breaking the oath would result in divine punishment.
Changes in power and land ownership needed to be recorded and confirmed. In 1085, William initiated a comprehensive survey known as the Domesday Survey, which was remarkably detailed and served as a record of land ownership across the country. The survey was completed in less than a year and documented who owned what throughout England.
The country was divided into seven circuits, and commissioners toured each circuit, asking questions about land ownership and changes from 1066 to 1085. Tenants-in-chief verified the information to ensure accuracy. Although the survey did not cover the entire country, it was a crucial part of Norman control and allowed William to charge rent and taxes more efficiently, helping to fund his army.
Despite his inability to read or speak English, William was quite organized. His impact was so significant that at his funeral, his body could not fit into the coffin, leading to an unfortunate incident due to the conditions.
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This version maintains the essential information while removing any inappropriate or sensitive content.
Feudal – Relating to the social system in medieval Europe where people worked and fought for nobles in exchange for protection and land. – In the feudal system, the king granted land to lords, who in turn provided military service.
System – A set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, especially in a social or political context. – The feudal system was a way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labor.
Vassal – A person in the feudal system who received protection and land from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service. – The vassal pledged allegiance to the lord and promised to fight for him when needed.
Lord – A noble who owned land and had power over others in the feudal system. – The lord of the manor held significant influence over the peasants who worked his land.
Peasants – Farmers and laborers in the feudal system who worked the land for the lords and were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. – The peasants toiled in the fields from dawn to dusk to produce food for the entire community.
Knights – Warriors in the feudal system who served their lords in exchange for land or other rewards. – Knights were often seen as the protectors of the realm, upholding the chivalric code.
Church – The religious institution that played a central role in medieval society, influencing both spiritual and political matters. – The church held great power during the Middle Ages, often advising kings and lords on important decisions.
Land – The territory or property owned or controlled by someone, especially in the context of the feudal system. – Land was the most valuable asset in the feudal system, determining wealth and power.
Ownership – The act, state, or right of possessing something, such as land or property. – Ownership of land was a key factor in determining one’s status and influence in medieval society.
Domesday – A record of a survey of English lands and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. – The Domesday Book provided a detailed account of landholdings and resources in England, helping to establish control over the kingdom.
