Human Heritage: A World History

Chapter 24: Feudal Society

Feudal Society

After the Viking attacks, the people of western Europe wanted security and protection. Western Europe, however, had no central government to keep the peace. Real power had passed from kings to local lords. To protect their property, the nobles raised their own armies. They also developed feudalism, or government by landowning nobles. Chapter 24 focuses on feudal society.

Section 1 discusses the reasons that feudalism developed in western Europe. The section explains the roles of and relationship between the lord and the vassal in feudal society.

Section 2 describes what castle life was like for noblemen and noblewomen during feudal times.

Section 3 focuses on the training and duties of knights and their obligation to follow the code of chivalry that outlined rules for their behavior.

Section 4 explains what life was like on the manors, which were owned by nobles and worked by peasants. A diagram of a typical manor is included.