Section III History of the Middle Ages Christian Europe and the Islamic World in the Middle Ages § 13. The Great Migration of Peoples and the Formation of Barbarian Kingdoms in Europe

§ 14. The emergence of Islam. Arab conquests

§15. Features of the development of the Byzantine Empire

§ 16. Empire of Charlemagne and its collapse. Feudal fragmentation in Europe.

§ 17. The main features of Western European feudalism

§ 18. Medieval city

§ 19. The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. Crusades The split of the church.

§ 20. The birth of nation-states

21. Medieval culture. Beginning of the Renaissance

Theme 4 from ancient Russia to the Muscovite state

§ 22. Formation of the Old Russian state

§ 23. Baptism of Russia and its meaning

§ 24. Society of Ancient Russia

§ 25. Fragmentation in Russia

§ 26. Old Russian culture

§ 27. Mongol conquest and its consequences

§ 28. The beginning of the rise of Moscow

29.Formation of a unified Russian state

§ 30. The culture of Russia in the late XIII - early XVI century.

Topic 5 India and the Far East in the Middle Ages

§ 31. India in the Middle Ages

§ 32. China and Japan in the Middle Ages

Section IV history of modern times

Theme 6 the beginning of a new time

§ 33. Economic development and changes in society

34. Great geographical discoveries. Formation of colonial empires

Topic 7 countries of Europe and North America in the XVI-XVIII centuries.

§ 35. Renaissance and humanism

§ 36. Reformation and counter-reformation

§ 37. The formation of absolutism in European countries

§ 38. English revolution of the 17th century.

Section 39, Revolutionary War and the Formation of the United States

§ 40. The French Revolution of the late XVIII century.

§ 41. Development of culture and science in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Age of Enlightenment

Topic 8 Russia in the XVI-XVIII centuries.

§ 42. Russia in the reign of Ivan the Terrible

§ 43. Time of Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century.

§ 44. Economic and social development of Russia in the XVII century. Popular movements

§ 45. Formation of absolutism in Russia. Foreign policy

§ 46. Russia in the era of Peter's reforms

§ 47. Economic and social development in the XVIII century. Popular movements

§ 48. Domestic and foreign policy of Russia in the middle-second half of the XVIII century.

§ 49. Russian culture of the XVI-XVIII centuries.

Theme 9 Eastern countries in the XVI-XVIII centuries.

§ 50. Ottoman Empire. China

§ 51. The countries of the East and the colonial expansion of Europeans

Topic 10 countries of Europe and America in the XlX century.

§ 52. Industrial revolution and its consequences

§ 53. Political development of the countries of Europe and America in the XIX century.

§ 54. The development of Western European culture in the XIX century.

Topic II Russia in the 19th century.

§ 55. Domestic and foreign policy of Russia at the beginning of the XIX century.

§ 56. Movement of the Decembrists

§ 57. Internal policy of Nicholas I

§ 58. Social movement in the second quarter of the XIX century.

§ 59. Foreign policy of Russia in the second quarter of the XIX century.

§ 60. The abolition of serfdom and the reforms of the 70s. 19th century Counter-reforms

§ 61. Social movement in the second half of the XIX century.

§ 62. Economic development in the second half of the XIX century.

§ 63. Foreign policy of Russia in the second half of the XIX century.

§ 64. Russian culture of the XIX century.

Theme 12 countries of the east in the period of colonialism

§ 65. Colonial expansion of European countries. India in the 19th century

§ 66: China and Japan in the 19th century

Topic 13 international relations in modern times

§ 67. International relations in the XVII-XVIII centuries.

§ 68. International relations in the XIX century.

Questions and tasks

Section V history of the 20th - early 21st century.

Topic 14 World in 1900-1914

§ 69. The world at the beginning of the twentieth century.

§ 70. Awakening of Asia

§ 71. International relations in 1900-1914

Topic 15 Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.

§ 72. Russia at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries.

§ 73. Revolution of 1905-1907

§ 74. Russia during the Stolypin reforms

§ 75. Silver age of Russian culture

Topic 16 World War I

§ 76. Military operations in 1914-1918

§ 77. War and society

Topic 17 Russia in 1917

§ 78. February revolution. February to October

§ 79. The October Revolution and its consequences

Topic 18 countries of Western Europe and the USA in 1918-1939.

§ 80. Europe after the First World War

§ 81. Western democracies in the 20-30s. XX c.

§ 82. Totalitarian and authoritarian regimes

§ 83. International relations between the First and Second World Wars

§ 84. Culture in a changing world

Topic 19 Russia in 1918-1941

§ 85. Causes and course of the Civil War

§ 86. Results of the Civil War

§ 87. New economic policy. USSR education

§ 88. Industrialization and collectivization in the USSR

§ 89. The Soviet state and society in the 20-30s. XX c.

§ 90. The development of Soviet culture in the 20-30s. XX c.

Topic 20 Asian countries in 1918-1939.

§ 91. Turkey, China, India, Japan in the 20-30s. XX c.

Topic 21 World War II. Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people

§ 92. On the eve of the world war

§ 93. The first period of the Second World War (1939-1940)

§ 94. The second period of the Second World War (1942-1945)

Topic 22 World in the second half of the 20th - early 21st century.

§ 95. Post-war structure of the world. Beginning of the Cold War

§ 96. Leading capitalist countries in the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 97. The USSR in the post-war years

§ 98. The USSR in the 50s and early 60s. XX c.

§ 99. The USSR in the second half of the 60s and early 80s. XX c.

§ 100. Development of Soviet culture

§ 101. The USSR during the years of perestroika.

§ 102. Countries of Eastern Europe in the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 103. The collapse of the colonial system

§ 104. India and China in the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 105. Countries of Latin America in the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 106. International relations in the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 107. Modern Russia

§ 108. Culture of the second half of the twentieth century.

§ 17. The main features of Western European feudalism

Whatis feudalism.

Classical Middle Ages in Europe ". - XIII centuries) was the heyday of feudalism. The word "feudalism" comes from the word "feud" - hereditary land ownership for service. The person who received the fief was a vassal (servant) of the one who provided him with land. The one who endowed the feud was the lord (senior). Both seniors and vassals were called feudal lords. The feudal lord was also a lord for all residents

his fief.

By X-XI no. in Europe, almost all the land was divided into fiefs. At that time they said: "There is no land without a lord." All feudal lords became virtually independent rulers in their domains. However, a connection remained between the feudal lords, which protected the states from complete collapse. This connection is depicted in the form of the so-called "feudal ladder". On its upper step was the king or emperor - the supreme owner of all lands and the supreme lord of the state. It was believed that the king distributed large areas to his vassals - princes, dukes, counts. Those. in turn, they allocated separate parts of their principalities, duchies and counties to their own vassals - barons. The barons also have 61.1:111 vassals - knights. The word "knight" in translation from German means a rider, a cavalryman. As a fief, the knights received an estate - a village or part of a village. The knights constituted the bottom rung of the "feudal ladder".

There was a rule: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." This meant that the vassal served only his immediate lord. The king, for example, could not call on the service of a baron - a vassal of dukes, and a duke - a simple knight. very weak.

The lord gave the vassal land, helped him and protected him from enemies. The vassal, at the call of the master, became in the ranks of his army. As a rule, military service was compulsory for the vassal for 40 days a year. For the rest of the days. held and saddle, he was getting! senior person to> pay. In certain cases, the vassal also gave gifts to the lord, redeemed him from captivity, etc. The feud after the death of the owner was inherited by his eldest son.

Reasons for the rise of feudalism.

During the Middle Ages, wars were common. After the collapse of the empire of Charlemagne, all the countries of Europe were shaken by bloody strife. Even worse in the IX-X centuries. there were devastating raids of the Normans (inhabitants of Scandinavia and Denmark), Arabs, Hungarians, who at times threatened the very existence of European society. To save from complete extermination and ruin, it was necessary to have a reliable army. Improvements in military affairs (for example, the introduction of regiments for horses and stirrups for saddles) dramatically raised the importance of a professional knightly army (riders with heavy weapons and heavy armor). Thanks to horseshoes, the horse could carry a heavily armed, iron-clad knight, who, leaning on stirrups, hit the enemy with a spear and sword.

The knight became a formidable force, but each such warrior and his horse now had to be supported by dozens of people. The mass militias are being replaced by small detachments of professional warriors. The feudal order ensured the existence of a sufficiently reliable military force to protect the whole society.

Three Estatesfeudal society.

In the Middle Ages, people were divided into classes of praying, fighting and working. These estates differed in their rights and obligations, which were established by laws and customs.

IN class of belligerents(feudal lords) included descendants of noble people of barbarian tribes and noble inhabitants of the Western Roman Empire conquered by them. The situation of the belligerents was different. The richest owned entire regions, and some simple knights were sometimes very poor. However, only feudal lords had the right to own land and rule over other people.

IN working class went as the descendants of impoverished free people from among the barbarians and Roman citizens, as well as the descendants of slaves and columns. The vast majority of those who worked are peasants. They fell into two categories. Some peasants remained free people, but lived on the lands of feudal lords. The feud was divided into master's land and peasant allotments. It was believed that these allotments were provided to the peasants by the feudal lord. For this, the peasants worked on the master's land (corvée) and paid taxes to the feudal lord (tire). The feudal lord promised the population of his fief, levied fines for breaking the laws. Another category of peasants was called serfs. They were considered "attached" to their allotments and could not leave them. The duties of the serfs (corvee, dues) were more difficult than those of the free. They were personally dependent on the feudal lords, they were sold and bought together with the land. The property of the serfs was considered the property of the lord. Servants-serfs were in fact the position of slaves.

In addition to the warring and working, there were class of worshippers. He was considered the main and was called the first. It was believed that the feudal lord or peasant was not able to fully comprehend the full depth of the teachings of Christ and independently communicate with God. In addition, people are constantly tempted by the devil. Only the Christian church and its ministers - the clergy - could explain the divine laws to everyone, connect a person with God, protect him from the wiles of the devil and atone for his sins before God. The main duty of the class of worshipers was worship. The priests also baptized children, married the newlyweds, received confession from the penitents and remitted their sins, communed the dying.

Unlike those at war and working, the clergy were an open estate. People from two other classes could become priests. For the maintenance of the first estate, workers were charged a tax in the amount of a tenth of their income (church tithe). Considerable land was in the direct possession of the church.

Peasants.

Peasants in the Middle Ages, in addition to farming and cattle breeding, hunted, fished, collected honey and wax from forest bees. They sewed their own clothes and shoes, built dwellings and baked bread, paved roads and built bridges, dug canals and drained swamps. But agriculture remained their main business. The needs of its development turned many villagers into genuine inventors. The success of agriculture is largely due to the invention by the peasants heavy plow with coulter - device for dumping the earth. They also invented a collar for a horse. He allowed the use of these animals for plowing the fields.

Peasants mastered three fields. Were bred winter varieties plants resistant to winter cold. Manure and other fertilizers began to be applied to the fields. The cultivation of vegetables and fruits has become widespread. Vineyards gradually spread not only in the southern, but also in the relatively northern regions, right up to England.

Each peasant family cultivated her allotment. This allotment was a long strip of land in a large field. Allotments of other families were located nearby, as well as strips of the master's land. After the harvest, cattle were driven out to a large field. He not only grazed, but fertilized the arable land. Therefore, the work on the plots had to be carried out by the villagers at the same time, and everyone had to plant the same crops. Fellow villagers helped neighbors in trouble, jointly defended fields and herds from robbers, cleared new fields, used forests and meadows.

The villagers resolved the most important issues at meetings, elected the headman - the head of the peasant communities. The community was necessary for the peasants and to their relationship with the feudal lord. The headman monitored the full payment of dues and at the same time ensured that the peasants were not charged in excess of the norm.

Feudal lords.

Near the village was the fortified dwelling of her lord - Castle. Castles were built simultaneously with the folding of feudalism itself. In IX-X iv. they were erected to protect against the Normans, Arabs and Hungarians. 13 castles sheltered the inhabitants of the entire district. At first, castles were built of wood, then of stone. These fortresses were often surrounded by a moat with water over which a drawbridge was thrown. The most impregnable place of the castle was a multi-storey tower - donjon. Upstairs in the donjon lived the feudal lord with his family, and downstairs - his servants. There was a dungeon in the basement. Each floor of the donjon, if necessary, turned into a small fortress. From the upper floor in the wall of the tower, a secret spiral staircase to the basement was often laid. There was an underground passage from the full to a remote place. Therefore, even when capturing the castle, the feudal lord could avoid death or captivity. However, it was almost impossible to take the castle by storm. Only after a long siege could the defenders surrender due to starvation. But the castle usually kept large supplies of food.

Chivalry.

The whole life of the belligerent class was spent in campaigns and battles. The sons of feudal lords began to prepare for knightly service from childhood. Without many years of training, it was impossible not only to fight in the heavy armor of a knight, but even to move around in them. From the age of 7, the boys became pages, and at the age of 14 they became the squires of the knights. The knights came to the service of the lord with pages and squires, with lightly armed servants. This small detachment led by a knight was called a "spear", the feudal army consisted of such detachments. In battle, the knight fought with the knight, the squire fought with the squire, the rest of the soldiers showered the enemy with arrows. At the age of 18, squires became knights. The senior at the same time handed him a belt, sword and spurs.

Gradually formed rules of knighthood. Loyalty to the lord and generosity to vassals were considered one of the clay qualities. An even more important quality was valor. A valiant knight must constantly strive for exploits, show courage and even recklessness in battle, despise death. Valor is associated with nobility and courtesy towards the enemy. A real knight will never attack secretly, but, on the contrary, will warn the enemy about the upcoming battle, during the duel with him he will have the same weapon, etc. Sacred for the knights was military friendship, as well as revenge for an insult.

The rules of knightly honor prescribed to protect the church and its ministers, as well as all the weak - widows, orphans, beggars. There were many other rules. True, in real life they are often violated. Among the knights there were many unbridled, cruel and greedy people.

The favorite pastimes of the feudal lords were hunting And tournaments - military competitions of knights in the presence of spectators. True, the church condemned tournaments. After all, the knights spent their time and effort on them, which were necessary to fight the enemies of Christianity.

With the fall of the Roman Empire under the onslaught of barbarian tribes in Europe, a new form organization of society. The slaveholding system was replaced by feudal relations. It is important to remember that feudalism is a form of social organization where power belongs to those who have personal land ownership and extends to those who live on this land.

The structure of medieval feudal society

The feudal system was an inevitable process for its time. Barbarians, unable to manage vast territories, divided their countries into fiefs, which were much smaller than the country. This, in due course, caused the weakening of royal power. So, in France already XIII century the king is only "first among equals". He was forced to listen to the opinion of his feudal lords and he could not make a single decision without the consent of the majority of them.

Consider the formation of a feudal society on the example of the state of the Franks. Having occupied the vast territories of the former Gaul, the Frankish kings endowed large land plots to their prominent military leaders, famous warriors, friends, prominent political figures, and later ordinary soldiers. So began to form thin layer landowners.

The land plots that the king endowed his entourage for faithful service were called feuds in the Middle Ages, and the people who owned them were called feudal lords.

So, already by the 8th century, a feudal system was formed in Europe, which finally took shape after the death of Charlemagne.

Rice. 1. Charlemagne.

TO key features formation of feudalism include:

TOP 4 articleswho read along with this

• the predominance of subsistence farming;
• personal dependence of workers;
• rent relations;
• the presence of large feudal landholdings and small peasant land use;
• the dominance of a religious worldview;
• a clear hierarchical structure of estates.

An important feature of this era is the formation of three main classes and the basing of society on agriculture.

Rice. 2. Hierarchy of estates in Europe

Table "Estates of feudal society"

estate	What is responsible for
Feudal lords (dukes, earls, barons, knights)	Serve the king, protect the state from external aggression. The feudal lords collected taxes from those who lived on their plots, had the right to participate in jousting tournaments and, in the event of hostilities, had to come with a military detachment to the royal army.
Clergy (priests and monks)	The most literate and educated part of society. Were poets, scientists, chroniclers. The main duty is to serve the faith and God.
workers (peasants, merchants, artisans)	The main duty is to feed the other two estates.

Thus, members of the working class had their own private farms, but remained dependent, like slaves. This was expressed in the fact that they were forced to pay rent to the feudal lords for land in the form of corvee ( compulsory works on the lands of the feudal lord), dues (products) or money. The size of the duties was strictly established, which made it possible for the workers to plan the management of their economy and the sale of their products.

Rice. 3. The work of the peasants in the fields.

Each feudal lord allocated to his peasants those forms of duties that he considered necessary. Some feudal lords abandoned the slavish attitude towards the peasants, collecting only symbolic taxes in the form of products for the use of land.

Such relationships could not but affect the development Agriculture. The peasants were interested in increasing the level of land cultivation in order to obtain a larger harvest, which affected their incomes.

What have we learned?

The feudal system was necessary element development of society. In those historical conditions, it was possible to raise the level of production only with the use of the labor of dependent peasants, by offering them a personal interest in labor.

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The feudal system was inherent in many countries, the difference lies in the time periods that were different for each state. In China, the era of feudalism lasted more than two thousand years, in Russia it began around the 10th century and ended with the adoption of the peasant reform.

In the countries of Europe, the feudal system arose after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, it was put to an end by the English bourgeois revolution in the 17th century. Feudalism in Western Europe arose after the disintegration of the slave system and the disintegration of the tribal system among the conquering tribes.

Structure and causes of feudal society

Feudalism as a phenomenon developed as a result of the synthesis of these processes. The beginnings of feudalism were still in the Roman Empire, it was there that colonial relations first appeared.

The master, who was a large landowner, endowed the peasants with their own land, they were also obliged to work on his farm for a certain number of days or to pay a sum of money in the form of a tax for the use of their land.

This was the birth of feudal relations, the flowering of which will fall on early middle ages. The root cause of the birth of feudalism was the class inequality of the peasants.

Most of the land was owned by wealthy families, which made it possible for them to receive large proceeds from the production of agricultural products. Along with incomes, power over the poorer residents also gradually increased.

Due to the monopoly that unfolded in society, poor peasants became dependent on prosperous landowners.

With the support of the authorities, as well as military officials who had significant influence at that time, large landowners managed to legislate the duty of the peasants. In fact, it was the same slaveholding with a small difference: the peasants had the right to work on their land plot.

Strengthening of feudalism in Europe

After the fall of the Roman Empire for 5 centuries, feudalism finally took hold in Europe. Free peasants were gradually ruined by constant military service and robberies.

In order to somehow earn a living, they were forced to turn to the feudal lords for help, who appropriated the ownership of their lands and imposed a number of duties on them. At the end of the X century, enslavement loses its voluntary form.

Power intervenes in relations between the feudal lord and the peasant. The monarchs had a personal benefit from the process of enslavement and in fact forcibly transferred the property of free peasants to large landowners.

Each feudal lord put forward his own forms of duties to the peasants, history speaks of cases of liberalism uncharacteristic of feudal relations. Some feudal lords refused to enslave the peasants and took only a symbolic tax in the form of products for the use of land.

Naturally, this provoked the migration of peasants, which was determined by the search for a better feudal lord. In the 15th century, such movements were prohibited, and the peasantry was finally assigned to one landowner. Such a restriction finally erased the line between the status of a slave and a peasant.

The need for feudalism

Paradoxically, the feudal system was a necessary element in the development of human society. The development of production in those historical conditions was possible only with the use of the labor of dependent peasants who had their own interest in labor.

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that society is divided into "those who pray" - the clergy, "those who fight" - knights and "those who work" - peasants. All these classes, as it were, were parts of one body. In fact, the hierarchical structure of society that arose in the Middle Ages was much more complex and interesting.
And you will also learn how a real knight should look and behave.

Topic:Feudal system Western Europe

Lesson:feudal society

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that society is divided into "those who pray" - the clergy, "those who fight" - knights and "those who work" - peasants. All these classes, as it were, were parts of one body. In fact, the hierarchical structure of society that arose in the Middle Ages was much more complex and interesting. And you will also learn how a real knight should look and behave.

By the middle of the XI century. established in Europe social order which modern historians call feudal. Power in society belonged to the landowners-feudal lords, secular and ecclesiastical. The vast majority of the population were dependent peasants. The privileges and duties of masters and peasants took shape in certain customs, written laws and regulations.

Each large feudal lord distributed part of the land with peasants to small feudal lords as a reward for their service, they also gave him an oath of allegiance. He was considered in relation to these feudal lords senior(senior), and the feudal lords, who, as it were, “kept” lands from him, became his vassals(subordinates). The vassal was obliged, by order of the lord, to go on a campaign and bring a detachment of soldiers with him, participate in the lord's court, help him with advice, and redeem the lord from captivity. The lord defended his vassals from attacks by other feudal lords and rebellious peasants, rewarded them for their service, and was obliged to take care of their orphaned children. It happened that the vassals opposed their lords, did not follow their orders, or went over to another lord. And then only by force could they be forced into submission, especially if the lord forced the vassals to participate in the war for too long or poorly rewarded for their service.

The king was considered the head of all feudal lords and the first lord of the country: he was the supreme judge in disputes between them and led the army during the war. The king was a senior for the highest nobility (aristocracy) - dukes and counts. Below were the barons and viscounts, the vassals of the dukes and earls. The barons were the lords of the knights, who no longer had their own vassals. Vassals were to obey only their lords. If they were not vassals of the king, then they might not follow his orders. This order was fixed by the rule: "The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." Relations between the feudal lords resembled a ladder, on the upper steps of which stood the largest feudal lords, on the lower steps - the middle ones, and even lower - the small ones. Historians call this organization of feudal lords feudal staircase.

Rice. 1. Feudal stairs ()

Feudal law also regulated relations between masters and their dependent peasants. For example, a peasant community had the right to disobey a lord if he demanded a higher tax than was provided for by the custom of this community or by an agreement between the peasants and the lord of the land. When a war broke out with another state, the king called for the campaign of dukes and counts, and they turned to the barons, who brought detachments of knights with them. This is how the feudal army, which is usually called knightly, was created.

Starting from the 8th century to protect against the attacks of the Normans and Hungarians in Europe, many castles were built. Gradually, each gentleman tried to build himself a castle, depending on the possibilities - huge or modest. The castle is the dwelling of the feudal lord and his fortress. At first, castles were built of wood, later - of stone. Powerful walls with crenellated towers served reliable protection. The castle was often erected on a hill or a high rock, surrounded by a wide moat with water. Sometimes it was built on an island in the middle of a river or lake. A drawbridge was thrown over a moat or channel, and at night and during an enemy attack, it was raised on chains. From the tower above the gate, she constantly surveyed the surroundings of the guard and, noticing the enemy in the distance, blew the alarm. Then the soldiers hurried to take their places on the walls and in the towers. To get into the castle, it was necessary to overcome many obstacles. The enemies had to fill up the ditch, open space overcome the hill, approach the walls, climb them along the assigned assault ladders, or smash the oak, iron-bound gates with a battering ram. On the heads of the enemies, the defenders of the castle threw stones and logs, poured boiling water and hot pitch, threw spears, showered them with arrows. Often the attackers had to storm a second, even higher wall.

Rice. 2. Medieval castle in Spain ()

Above all the buildings towered the main tower - donjon. In it, the feudal lord with his warriors and servants could withstand a long siege if other fortifications were already captured. Inside the tower, one above the other, there were halls. IN basement they made a well and stored food supplies. Nearby, prisoners languished in a damp and dark dungeon. From the basement, they usually dug a secret underground passage that led to a river or forest.

Warfare became the occupation almost exclusively of the feudal lords, and this was the case for many centuries. The feudal lord often fought all his life. The knight was armed with a great sword and a long spear; often he also used a battle ax and a club - a heavy club with a thickened metal end. With a large shield, the knight could cover himself from head to toe. The body of the knight was protected by chain mail - a shirt woven from iron rings (sometimes in 2-3 layers) and reaching to the knees. Later, chain mail was replaced by armor - armor made of steel plates. The knight put on a helmet on his head, and in a moment of danger he lowered a visor over his face - a metal plate with slits for the eyes. The knights fought on strong, hardy horses, which were also protected by armor. The knight was accompanied by a squire and several armed warriors, horse and foot, - a whole "combat unit". The feudal lords prepared for military service since childhood. They constantly practiced fencing, horseback riding, wrestling, swimming and throwing spears, learned the techniques and tactics of combat.

Rice. 3. Knight and squire ()

Noble knights considered themselves “noble” people, were proud of the antiquity of their families and the number of famous ancestors. The knight had his own coat of arms - a distinctive sign of the family and the motto - a short saying, usually explaining the meaning of the coat of arms to the neck. The knights did not hesitate to rob the vanquished, their own peasants and even those passing on the high roads. At the same time, the knight was supposed to despise prudence, frugality, but show generosity. The incomes received from the peasants and military booty were most often spent on gifts, feasts and treats for friends, hunting, expensive clothes, and on the maintenance of servants and soldiers. Another important quality of a knight was considered loyalty to the king and lord. It was his main duty. And treason imposed a stigma of shame on the whole family of a traitor. “Whoever cheats on his lord, he must rightfully suffer punishment,” says one of the poems. In legends about knights, courage, prowess, contempt for death, nobility were sung. This developed code (laws) of knightly honor also included other special rules: a knight must seek feats, fight enemies Christian faith, to defend the honor of ladies, as well as the weak and offended, especially widows and orphans, to be fair and gallant. But these rules of knightly honor were applied mainly in relations between feudal lords. All those who were considered "ignoble", the knights despised, behaved with them arrogantly and cruelly.

Bibliography

1. Agibalova E. V., Donskoy G. M. History of the Middle Ages. - M., 2012.

2. Atlas of the Middle Ages: History. Traditions. - M., 2000.

3. Illustrated The World History: from ancient times to the XVII century. - M., 1999.

4. History of the Middle Ages: Book. for reading / Ed. V. P. Budanova. - M., 1999.

5. Kalashnikov V. Riddles of History: Middle Ages / V. Kalashnikov. - M., 2002.

6. Stories on the history of the Middle Ages / Ed. A. A. Svanidze. - M., 1996.

Homework

1. Name the three estates of medieval society

2. Why did the peasants not enter the feudal ladder?

3. What rights and obligations bound seigneurs and vassals?

4. Describe a medieval castle

5. What weapons did the knights use?

6. What are the main provisions of the code of knightly honor.

feudalism and feudal society) - a type of agrarian society in which land ownership is due to military or other service, in which there is a hierarchy political power, based on contractual rights and obligations, usually with a monarch at the head, and unfree peasants cultivate the land like serfs. This term is widely debated, and its definition could be challenged by many participants in the debate. The main areas of debate are: (a) whether feudalism developed only in Europe and Japan or was it more widespread. According to most, much of Western Europe from the period 1000-1400. (that is, the Middle Ages) can be described as feudal, characteristic of later Eastern Europe. Japan during the Tokugawa dynasty (1603-1868) had key similarities with Europe and the term was widely used; (b) whether feudalism is valued as a form of society, or whether it is a collection of institutions that can be found in a range of societies. When evaluating feudalism in the latter sense, political or economic aspects are taken into account. The political ones include the dominance of a paramilitary group of landowners and the hierarchy of vassalage, that is, subordinates are required to be loyal and be in the military service of a superior, who in exchange provides protection and promotion to the vassal. In Europe, a chain of similar relationships has developed from the monarch down. In economic terms, this is a concentration around land ownership that produces products (in Europe - flax), and the peasants are not free serfs and by various forms rents give the surplus product to the landowner. As a rule, production was not carried out for the market, although markets developed. If an institutional approach is adopted, then feudal land ownership can be identified in societies where feudal political relations did not exist (in particular, in colonial haciendas). Spanish America). However, modern sociology (e.g. Mann, 1986; Anderson, 1974) prefers to define feudalism as a type of society that includes specific political, economic, social, and, more problematically, ideological or cultural elements, although differences are recognized (e.g., Anderson) between South, West and Eastern Europe. It is this social approach that leads to the identification of the few examples of feudalism in the world. Some Marxists, like Anderson, maintain a limited use of the term, while others, influenced by Maoist writings, identify feudalism with a range of agrarian societies. See also Feudal mode of production.