Feudalism
Grade 7 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Feudalism was the backbone of Medieval society — a pyramid of power built on land, loyalty, and the constant need for protection.
Feudalism was a social and political system that dominated Europe from roughly 900 to 1300 CE. After the fall of Rome, centralized government collapsed, and local lords filled the power vacuum. Kings granted large estates called fiefs to powerful nobles in exchange for military loyalty, and nobles subdivided those lands to knights who in return provided soldiers and service.
At the bottom of the feudal pyramid were serfs, peasants who were legally bound to the land they worked. They could not leave their lord's estate without permission, could not marry without approval, and owed labor and a portion of their crops as dues. While serfs were not technically enslaved, they had very limited freedom and could be transferred with the land if it changed hands.
Feudalism began to decline in the 14th century due to several pressures: the Black Death killed a third of Europe's population, making labor scarce and giving serfs more bargaining power; the Crusades exposed Europeans to trade and ideas that weakened isolation; and stronger centralized kingdoms began replacing local lord authority.
| Level | Who | What They Gave | What They Got |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | King/Queen | Land (fiefs) | Military service, taxes, loyalty |
| 2nd | Lords/Nobles | Land to knights | Military service, homage |
| 3rd | Knights | Military service | Land, protection |
| Bottom | Serfs/Peasants | Labor and crops | Protection, use of land |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Lord's castle/manor house | Protected and governed the estate |
| Village | Where serfs and craftsmen lived |
| Farmland | Divided into strips worked by serfs (three-field rotation) |
| Church | Spiritual center; the priest collected tithes (a 10% tax) |
| Mill and oven | Lord owned them; serfs paid fees to use them |
Key terms
- Fief
- An estate or plot of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service
- Vassal
- A person who received land from a lord and in return pledged loyalty and military service
- Serf
- A peasant legally bound to a lord's land; could not leave without permission
- Manor
- A lord's estate, which was largely self-sufficient, including farmland, a village, a church, and a mill
Practice questions
What was a 'fief' in the feudal system?
- A type of weapon
- An estate of land granted in exchange for loyalty
- A peasant's hut
- A church tax
Show answer
A fief was land given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty.
Which group was legally bound to a lord's land and could not leave without permission?
- Knights
- Vassals
- Serfs
- Monks
Show answer
Serfs were peasants attached to the land and could not leave, marry, or change occupations without their lord's consent.
A vassal in the feudal system was a lord's enemy.
Show answer
A vassal pledged loyalty and military service to a lord in exchange for land. The relationship was based on mutual obligation.
What was a manor?
- A type of castle tower
- A self-sufficient estate including farmland, a village, and a church
- A document granting freedom to serfs
- A military formation
Show answer
The manor was the basic economic unit of feudalism, mostly self-sufficient, producing its own food, tools, and goods.
What factors caused feudalism to decline in the 14th century?
Show answer
Multiple pressures combined to weaken the rigid feudal structure during the late Middle Ages.
Fun facts
- Serfs typically worked three days a week on the lord's land for free, and the other days farming their own small plots to feed their families.
- A knight's full suit of armor could weigh up to 50 pounds, so knights trained from childhood to fight while wearing it.
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