Feudalism

Question 1

What are the four levels of Feudalism from top to bottom?

Answer 1

1. King
2. Tenants-in-Chief (Nobles - Barons/Upper Clergy)
3. Sub-Tenants (Knights/Lower Clergy) 4. Peasants

Question 2

Who spread feudalism through Europe, and why?

Answer 2

Charlemagne because it was a way of controlling very large areas of land and creating social order.

Question 3

Who brought feudalism to England? Why?

Answer 3

William the Conqueror. It helped him control his nobles and lords - if they broke an oath, he could take their land.

Question 4

What were the two different types of peasants?

Answer 4

Freemen and Serfs. Freemen could own or rent land. Serfs had less rights - had to ask permission to leave lord’s estate or marry.

Question 5

Why did the barons make King John I sign the Magna Carta?

Answer 5

Because he had too much power and was abusing it. He was not following the law of the time.

Question 6

Where can we see the legacy of the Magna Carta today?

Answer 6

It is echoed in the US Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the foundations of Australia’s common law - no one is above the law!

Question 7

What are the two different types of peasants?

Answer 7

1. Freemen - could own or rent land.
2. Serfs - not many rights. Had to ask permission from the lord to leave his estate or to marry.

Question 8

What are two reasons for the end of feudalism?

Answer 8

1. Black Death - less peasants to work the land. Survivors could ask for more pay and choose where to work.
2. Coinage taking over from crops. Rich merchants could hire armies/knights and ignore kings and lords.