The Medieval

Society
Social Studies – 7th Grade
(2020-2021)
CLASS OBJECTIVES
• *To identify the components that made up the Medieval society.
• *To use specific WH questions to explain Feudalism.
CLASS ORGANIZATION

1. Read your corresponding text (political, social, cultural, or

economic system) = 20 minutes
2. Connect to your team’s channel and write in bullet-points
the components that make up your system. Each member
can identify one or two components. Use the Online Word
documents shared in Aula Virtual = 25 minutes
3. Complete the Thinking Routine “Peel the Fruit”, you need
to actively participate = 25 minutes
4. Reflect upon the stated questions = 10 minutes
 CLASS DOCUMENTS

In this space, you can find the

readings of each system

In this space, you can find your

Online Word to complete the
activity
Let’s Peel the Medieval society!

What was Feudalism?

How did Feudalism work?

Who were the characters of the Feudal

society?
Which were the achievements during
Feudalism?
 What was Feudalism?
• Feudalism was the political, social and economic system of Middle Ages, which was Based on rights and obligations in exchange of protection
and other services. The feudal lord is elected based on landowner and granted land called fief. And last, feudalism depend on the control of the
land.
• Feudalism began...
• Everything began with the invasions of Vikings, Magyars, Muslims and others nomadic societies.
• As the invasions continued Europe entered a time of terror and chaos. France, Spain, Italy and others started to lose power, the people who
lived in that countries started to abandon their homes because the king's control over the land wasn’t that efficient and the protection, he could
give to the people was limited. They left their homes searching protection from the landowners, who in exchange asked for their loyalty and
handwork over the land.
• As time goes this relationship was called Feudalism.
• With the time the king was the one who gave the land to the knight or feudal who in exchange of protection asked the handwork of the
people. This kind of organization was kept until the end of the medieval time.
• Aside from this we have the connection of the chruch with the political system. The church has its own organization based on god. Since god
was represented with two swords, one symbolizes religious power and the other political power. A long, the two powers start conflict since
political doubt and challenge the Pope’s decisions.
• : England and France started to stablish a basis for the democratic governments. They started with the creation of the Magna Carta and the
common law to make the government fair and so that the society is organized. Also, the decision-making process of the commoners was a big
part of the basis England and France created.
 How did Feudalism Work?
• Feudalism had a basic economic system known as the manor system

• This system was the lord state, during the middle ages it was the basic economic arrangements
which rested on a set of rights and obligations between a lord and his serfs. The lord provided
the serfs with housing, farmlands, and protection from bandits. In return serfs tended the lord
lands, cared for his animals, and performed other tasks to maintain the state. All peasants,
whether free or serfs own the lord certain duties these included at least few days of labor each
week. However, serfs had to pay taxes to the lord and church and most of the times they paid
with money and food supplies.

• Commercial revolution just as agriculture was expanding and craftsmanship changing, so were
trades and finances. The commercial revolution was basically a way in which most people would
get benefits from buying stuff. It increased availability of trades goods and new ways of doing
business changed in Europe. It promoted the exchange with the Middle East and the contact
with other cultures, such as Muslims. The traders are going to play an important role in this.
 Who were the characters of Feudalism?
These are the characters of Feudalism...
• King, noble, church, the clergy, the noblewomen, knights peasants, and pleasant women

• Their functions were...

• King: He was the head of state, it could be said that he was a manager, he was in charge of issuing decrees and generating different sanctions.
• Noble: its function was for military purposes and for the protection of the castle. Some of them were feudal lords and their tittles were
passed from fathers to sons
• Church: They were in charge of the celebration of the liturgy, teaching and preaching, as well as the administration of the sacraments
(baptism, confirmation, marriage, extreme unction, etc.)
• Clergy: they were those who have been ordained in religious service: bishops, priests and deacons.
• The noblewomen played a key role on protection of castles because upon heir's lord request, she could send he knights to war. When the
husband was on war, the lady was in charge act as military commander.
• Knights: it was an armed institution that served a king or feudal power.
• Peasants: In exchange for a place to live, serfs worked the land to grow crops for themselves and their lord. In addition, serfs were expected
to work the farms for the lord and pay rent.
• Pleasant women performed endless labors around the home and often in field, bore children and tock care of their families.
 Which were the achievements
during Feudalims?
• During Feudalism these were the achievements...
The Chivalry
The invention of the university
The literatura known as epic novels (troubadours)
The Gothic Art
The conctact between Europe-Muslims and Bizantines = Science,
Math, Philosophy, Medicine, War Techniques…
Final Reflection
• How did we identify the components that
made up the Medieval society?

• What interest new information did you learn

today?
 So, in Summary…
Feudalism was an economic, social and political system that happened during the
Middle Ages (466-1492). It was based on landownership.
The Catholic Religion had an important role and had a lot of power during this time
In some kingdoms arise the first democratic systems, such as England and France
The manor was the basis of the feudal system. The manor was the lord state. Inside the
manor lived the lord and the vassals. The vassals worked the land of the lord and
he/she gave protection to the vassals
Thanks to multiples commercial contacts, a new economic class arise during the middle
ages the burghers, who were merchants with a lot of money and soon with a lot of
power.
During the Middle Ages there was a constant movement of people from manor to
manor. Some servants scaped looking for better living conditions, others were trade or
sell to another lord.
Cities were born
Chivalry was a code of behavior that knights followed. In this code they had to follow
their lord’s wishes, even if it meant die in a battle
So, in Summary
Epic novels were the most famous literature of the Middle Ages.
Troubadours were important figures that travelled through manors and
cities telling and singing epic novels, such as the one of King Arthur and
Lancelot
The creation of university was one of the most important achievements
of Middle Ages. However, in those years' universities were not places or
buildings but people moving across Europe and teaching in vernacular
language, not Latin.
Thanks to the contact made between Europe-Bizantines-Musslims,
mainly, through commercial routes, Europe developed a wide
knowledge of Philosophy, Science, Mathematics, Art and War
Techniques.