feudal system

Main economic, social and political activity

Feudal system

In Christian Kingdoms during the Middle Ages

Characterished

Monach loss of power

Relationship based on personal royalty

Economy based on self sufficient areas of lands

Monach governed with the aid of the court and loyal officials

Satarted with the division of the carolingian empire

Europe was raided by different peoples who shaked villages and cities

The monarch asked the nobles for help

In reward they received titles like lords

they managed to achieve an hereditary power that became absolute in their lands

The were able to hand out of justice and collect taxes

This area of land were called fiefdom and the nobles were called feudal lord

Serfs and free peasants lived in fiefdoms

Relationships were base on the vassalage system

A vassal was a person who voluntarity promised his loyalty to a person more powerful than himself

This was arranged in a ceremony known as commendation economy

The vassal kenelt before his lord and put his han together and swore his loyalty

The lord took vassals's hand and kissed him

Lord granted his vassal a ring or a post representing the fiefdom

Another ceremony took place

The knightood ceremony

Was performed when an aprentice, a squire, was learnt to handle weapons and horses

The squire was awarded the title of knight

The noble dubbed him on the shoulder with a sword

Economy

Agriulture continued to be the main economic activity

Cereal crops needed to make black bread and porridge

Agricultural products were complemented with other products

Those obtained from farm animals

Those obtained from nature

Eggs

Milk

Cheese

Fish in coastal areas

Build berries

This was a subsistence agriculture, because the farmers consumed nearlyeverything they produced

The small surplus was sold in local or regional markets an fairs

Agricultural techniques hardly changed

Wind or water mills to grind the cereal

Agricultural production was increased because they cultivated increased and some technological advantages

Parts of a fiefdom

The castle. Lord's residence, wich he shared with his family, vassals and servants

The demesme. Lord's land cultivated by serf an free peasants some months of a year.

The village, were the farmers lived together with his animals

Tenements, were the plots of a land were rented by the lord to the peasants in echange for part of their harvest.

Other parts of a fiefdom. For comunal use, belonged to the lord, the inhabitants had to pay

Society

Was divided into three large groups called states wich were hereditary

Nobility, bellatores, were those whose task weas tro defend the rest odf society in wars.They formed the dominant minority

Upper nobility, (monarchs, dukes, marquies and counts

Lower nobility (knights depended on their weapons)

Clergy, oratores, were those whose task was to pay for everyone to guarantee their salvation. They provided the population with a cultural education

Upper clergy (Pope, bishops and abbots

Lower clergy( Priests and monks)

Peasants and other workers, were obliged to work for the rest odf society

Serfs, worked as farmers and servants for a lord on his lands. They were not allowed to leave the fiefdom without his permision

Villainsc, were free peasants, craftmens and traders. They were free to leave their lord's land

Privileged: did not work, hand out of justice on their lands, not pay taxes fought in wars

Unprivileged: Worked, had to obey stricter laws, pay taxes and fight in wars

Romanesque art

Was the main artistic style

Was the first artistic medieval style

Was a rural style of art

Work art were situanted on the countryside and small villages

Was promoted by the nobility and the church

Buildings: chapels, monasteries and cathedrals

Was extended along pilgrimage routes

Churches look like furtresses

Architecture

(characteristics)

The use of thick stone walls. The buildings were supported by bruttresses, columns and pilars

Features: semi circular arches, barrel vaults, gorin vaults and gomes

The floor plants was in the shape of a latin cross.The part were both arms cross was called the crossing

Above the crossing, was built a twer called the squire

Columns and pilars divided the temple into three naves, the central and two lateral ones

At the end of the church, was the apse, containing the altar

The façades of romanesque churches contained portals, and one or two twers containing the belfry