GESCHICHTE 150 Friday August 30 2013 The Middle Ages 6th 14th century Medieval Society The High Middle Ages Our focus will be on select aspects of the High Middle Ages 11th 14th century The medieval conception of society the three orders Nobles acquired military power through a ceremony known as vassalage fiefs The warrior ethos the Catholic church s Truce of God 11th century Free and un free peasants serfs lived and worked on manors agricultural estates Manor size example of Elton in England late 13th century features of a manor Conditions of serfdom Work and food for serfs OUTLINE Those Who Fight Those Who Work NOTES High Medieval Society Politics Decentralized Nobles rather than kings Land private armies Economy Agricultural The Three Orders Understanding society Three classes military elite knights fighters peasants commoners work Catholic Church those who pray monks priests etc Those Who Fight Nobles have power through private armies Vassalage ceremony where a knight pledged his personal loyalty and military service to a nobleman Knight vassal Nobleman lord Reciprocity Each one gets something from the relationship Knight receives a fief land containing a manor or manors with serfs unfree peasants Knights warrior elite small segment of the population GESCHICHTE 150 Friday August 30 2013 Truce of God placed a ban on warfare from mid afternoon on Saturday until daybreak on Monday implemented by the Church The ban was later extended to Wednesday evening through Monday morning as well as the seasons of Advent and Lent Tournaments hunting activities used to distract or keep knights entertained instead of fighting Those Who Work Free peasants Un free peasants serfs Manor Estate agricultural estate typically owned by a vassal who is the lord of his own manor estate flexibility to fight and have estate tended by serfs Manor house Oven mill press Lord s garden orchard Lord s Close Village surrounding fields Elton in England 1 900 acres of land Village 500 600 people Peasants serfs 117 days of work a year for the Lord Conditions of Serfdom Lord had significant power over peasants Serfs were bound to the land they could not leave the land without the Lord s consent Serfs were under the jurisdiction of the Lord s court the manorial court The power of the Lord extended to matters such as marriage The serf owed the Lord labor The serf owed the Lord feudal dues for the use of the Lord s mill or oven he would have to give a portion of the grain or bread to the Lord In return the serf received protection from the Lord and a plot of land to work for his family s sustenance Men and women on the manor performed labor sexual division of labor