- Feudalism: a political, military and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances
- In other words: the system is based on personal loyalty to people who can help you
- RICH DUDE(LORD): "I own land; I need people to help me work it an defend it
- TOUGH DUDES(VASSALS): "There are a lot of us, we can help the rich dudes hold on to their land
- The feudal Pyramid
King
The most powerful Vassals (Nobles and Bishops)
Knights- mounted warriors who received a Fiefs (a small plot of land with a house) for defending their lord's land
Peasants (mostly Serfs) Landless, Powerless, moneyless, rights-less Just working the land for "the man" (their lord)
- Manor: the lord's estate
- The lord's manor house
- A church
- Some workshops
- 15-30 families
- all on a few square miles
- good news: it's a self-sufficient community
- bad news: it's harsh if you're a peasant
- Peasants are poor AND pay high taxes
- Tax on grain
- Tax on marriage
- Church tax (tithe = 10% of their income)
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