The Feudal System
Established by Charlemagne, the feudal system is essentially a trophic level of social order. At the bottom of the order are the peasants. The peasants themselves were responsible for the farming and maintenance of the land. Men would farm and look after jobs such as repairs and building. Women cooked, cleaned, sewed and practice medicine. Peasants were given a small amount of land to farm for themselves, a tenth of their crop was given to the church and the rest was given to the lord, or knight. Next up were the knights. They were often given their title for fighting wars in the name of their country. They often owned their own land, but still had allegiance to the higher power, like a baron or count. Barons and counts were court nobles. They normally had some sort of personal connection with the King. Sometimes they lived with the king in his palace or personal castle. They normally acted as advisors. Although they were rarely home, the barons often employed a special sort of person, called a bailiff to look after crops and taxes. The king was the most supreme system in medieval Europe. They often lived in luxurious castles across their state or nation. All laws that were passed by the king was considered to be Gods will, as the king himself was seen to be the divine right of God.
Definition of Medieval Times
The Medieval Era is defined as the era between the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 477 to the beginning of the Tudor era in 1485.
Manorialsm
Manorialism is similar to the feudal system. It is the order of society in a noble’s own manor or estate. The Lord of the Manor was head of house, then was the chief serf they employed to look after, called a bailiff. He also had other peasants with individual important roles, such as bakers, to tend to the needs of other peasants and of course, the Lord himself. Some peasants didn’t have special jobs and worked the land. The Lord had complete power over all the peasants, and could refuse them marriage, send them to jail to send them to other villages if it suited him.
Medieval Poll Tax
Introduced in 1380, the poll tax stated that every person in Great Britain must pay a tax. It cost up to 100 pounds a year, and every member of society had to pay it, including knights, nobles and peasants.
Sumptuary Law
This law dictated the power of the rich. It stated that, depending on class, you were ony aloud to wear and own certain clothes and garments. The legislation of the laws are as follows-
Women are to be dressed in acordance to their fathers or husbands postion
Wives and daughters of servants are not to wear veils above twelve pence in value
Handicraftsmen's and yeomen's wives are not to wear silk veils
The use of fur was confined to the ladies of knights with above 200 marks a year
The wife or daughter of a knight was not to wear cloth of gold or sable fur
The wife or daughter of a knight-bachelor not to wear velvet
The wife or daughter of an esquire or gentle man not to wear ermine, velvet or satin
The wife or daughter of a labourer not to wear clothes beyond a ertain price or a girdle garnished with silver
Cloth of gold and purple silk was confined to women of the royal family
The importation of silk or lace by Lombards or other foreigners were forbidden
Women are to be dressed in acordance to their fathers or husbands postion
Wives and daughters of servants are not to wear veils above twelve pence in value
Handicraftsmen's and yeomen's wives are not to wear silk veils
The use of fur was confined to the ladies of knights with above 200 marks a year
The wife or daughter of a knight was not to wear cloth of gold or sable fur
The wife or daughter of a knight-bachelor not to wear velvet
The wife or daughter of an esquire or gentle man not to wear ermine, velvet or satin
The wife or daughter of a labourer not to wear clothes beyond a ertain price or a girdle garnished with silver
Cloth of gold and purple silk was confined to women of the royal family
The importation of silk or lace by Lombards or other foreigners were forbidden