Notes- Chapter 11

Feudalism- term used by historians to describe the governmental system and the relationships between landowners and warriors
-Warriors, aka knights, would pledge his allegiance to a lord, who would in turn give that knight land
-Fief- property given to the knight from the lord, who would then become the lord's vassal- servant known as the feudal compact
 -The vassal must fight for the lord when he needs it and attend his court once a month

Homage and Knighthood
- A vassal was required to pay homage to his lord, usually this meant kneeling down and taking the lord's hands in his while speaking an oath of loyalty
- When a knight died, his fief would revert to his son, though his lord would be protector of that son if he was underage, or if it was a daughter

Feudal States
-Barons were lords of large territories who usually paid homage to a king
-Often a baron's army could outnumber that of a king , which kept a check on the king's power

The Manorial Estate
-Medieval society was divided into three "estates" : the clergy, the nobility, and the common people
-Usually the peasantry famed on large plantations known as "manors" which were owned by a lord or lady of the nobility
-Iron plows and water- powered grinding mills helped with agricultural production, but the yield was still mini-scale by today's standards

People of the Manor
-The lady of the house ran household operations, oversaw servants, entertained guests and ran the manor when her husband was away
-Most peasants were serfs, meaning they were bound to the land and to their lords for "labor service" a few days each year
-the lord oversaw major agricultural issues but delegated everyday overseeing to his stewards or bailiffs

The Location and Perseverance of Towns
- Most medieval towns were surrounded by fortified walls
- Residences also sprang up outside the walls in the suburbs
-Towns were dominated by a main church and a central marketplace

The Life of Townspeople
- Merchants at the top, then skilled craftsman, then unskilled laborers and apprentices

The Guilds
-Merchants, craftsmen and artisans formed their own groups called guilds which regulated their trade and protected its members
-Craftsmen were classified as masters, journeymen, and apprentices
-Once became a master after spending years learning as an apprentice, working as a paid journeyman for a number of years, and completing his "masterpiece"