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The feudal system was introduced to England following the invasion and conquest of the country by William I, The Conqueror.
The feudal system had been used in France by the Normans from the time they first settled there in about 900AD. It was a simple, but effective system, where all land was owned by the King. One quarter was kept by the King as his personal property, some was given to the church and the rest was leased out under strict controls.
A simple plan showing how the feudal system works:
The King: Leader of the Feudal System
The King was in complete control under the feudal system (at least nominally). He owned all the land in the country and decided to whom he would lease land. He therefore typically allowed tenants he could trust to lease land from him. However, before they were given any land they had to swear an oath of fealty to the King at all times. The men who leased land from the King were known as Barons, they were wealthy, powerful and had complete control of the land they leased from the King.
Barons: Executors of the Feudal System
Barons leased land from the King that was known as a manor. They were known as the Lord of the Manor and were in complete control of this land. They established their own system of justice, minted their own money and set their own taxes. In return for the land they had been given by the King, the Barons had to serve on the royal council, pay rent and provide the King with Knights for military service when he demanded it. They also had to provide lodging and food for the King and his court when they travelled around his realm. The Barons kept as much of their land as they wished for their own use, then divided the rest among their Knights. Barons were very rich.
Knights
Knights were given land by a Baron in return for military service when demanded by the King. They also had to protect the Baron and his family, as well as the Manor, from attack. The Knights kept as much of the land as they wished for their own personal use and distributed the rest to villeins (serfs). Although not as rich as the Barons, Knights were quite wealthy.
Villeins
Villeins, sometimes known as serfs, were given land by Knights. They had to provide the Knight with free labour, food and service whenever it was demanded. Villeins had no rights. They were not allowed to leave the Manor and had to ask their Lord’s permission before they could marry. Villeins were poor.
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Costumes of the Middle Ages by Albert KretschmerLife in the CountryThe majority of people living during the Middle Ages lived in the country and worked as farmers. Usually there was a local lord who lived in a large house called a manor or a castle. Local peasants would work the land for the lord. The peasants were called the lord's 'villeins', which was like a servant.The peasants worked hard all year long.
They grew crops such as barley, wheat, and oats. They also had gardens where they grew vegetables and fruits.
They also sometimes had a few animals such as chickens for eggs and cows for milk.Life in the CityCity life was very different from country life, but it wasn't much easier. The cities were crowded and dirty. A lot of people worked as craftsmen and were members of a guild. Young boys would serve as apprentices for seven years learning a craft. Other jobs in the city included servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.What were their homes like?Although we often think of pictures of large castles when we think of the Middle Ages, most people lived in small one or two room homes.
These homes were very crowded and usually everyone slept in the same room. In the country, the family animals, such as a cow, may also live inside the home. The home was usually dark, smoky from the fire, and uncomfortable. What did they wear?Most peasants wore plain clothing made from heavy wool to keep them warm during the winter. The wealthy, however, wore much nicer clothes made from fine wool, velvet, and even silk.
Men generally wore a tunic, woolen stockings, breeches, and a cloak. Women wore a long skirt called a kirtle, an apron, woolen stockings, and a cloak.In order to separate the nobles from the peasants, laws were passed called 'sumptuary' laws. These laws stated who could wear what types of clothes and what materials they could use.What did they eat?Peasants during the Middle Ages did not have a lot of variety in their food.
They mostly ate bread and stew. The stew would have beans, dried peas, cabbage, and other vegetables sometimes flavored with a bit of meat or bones. Other foods like meat, cheese, and eggs were usually saved for special occasions. Since they didn't have a way to keep their meat cold, they would eat it fresh. Leftover meat was smoked or salted to preserve it. The nobles ate a wider variety of food including meats and sweet puddings.Did they go to school?Very few people attended school in the Middle Ages. Most peasants learned their job and how to survive from their parents.
Some children learned a craft through apprenticeship and the guild system. Wealthy children often learned through tutors.
They would go to live in the castle of another lord where they would work for the lord, learning about how a large manor was run.There were some schools run by the church. Here students would learn to read and write Latin. The first universities also began during the Middle Ages. University students would study a wide range of subjects including reading, writing, logic, math, music, astronomy, and public speaking. Interesting Facts about Daily Life in the Middle Ages. The bread eaten by people of the Middle Ages was gritty from the millstones used to grind the grain. This caused the people's teeth to wear down quickly.
Peasants were not allowed to hunt on the lord's land. Punishment for killing a deer was sometimes death. Medicine was very primitive at the time.
Sometimes doctors would 'bleed' people by putting leeches on their skin. People mostly drank ale or wine. The water was bad and would make them sick.
Marriages were often arranged, especially for nobles. Noble girls often married at 12 years old and boys at 14.Activities. Take a ten question about this page. Listen to a recorded reading of this page:Your browser does not support the audio element.More subjects on the Middle Ages:OverviewKnights and CastlesCultureMajor EventsNationsPeople.