Medieval Castles

Feudalism & Manorialism
Feudalism
• Feudalism developed out of a
need for protection!
• People were bound to one
another by oaths of fealty, or
promises of loyalty.
• Lords gave an oath to the _____
and received a fief (land).
•Knights gave an oath to the _____
and received food & land.
What is a
fief?
Land granted
by a lord to a
vassal in
exchange for
loyalty and
protection.
What is a Manor?
• Manor – piece
of land (fief)
under the
control of a lord.
Manors had two purposes:
• Protection
• Self-supported – Manors supplied
all the needs for the people living
on the fief.
•Manors included:
• a village
• huts for serfs
• manor house
or castle
• areas to grow
and hunt food
Manor Houses/Castles
Castles
• Main purpose:
protection!!!
• Fortress during
war
• Nobleman’s
home
• Motte and Bailey Castles were
the first castles!
• Keep - built on a
large mountain
of earth, called
the Motte.
• Bailey - the area
outside of the
keep, but within
the walls of the
castle.
13th Century - “Modern” - Castles
• Built
advanced
drawbridges,
moats,
keeps, &
workhouses.
Who Lived There?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lord
Lady
Children
Servants
peddlers
prisoners
Castle Conditions
• Cold, damp, no heat
• Walls covered with
tapestries to
prevent draft
• Foul air
• Main/Great
Hall used for
eating,
sleeping, &
entertaining
• A fire was always burning in Great Hall
• no bathrooms!
• waste was
thrown into the
moat
• water was often
undrinkable