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Feudal System
Medieval Feudalism
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| vassal | any person granted land in exchange for services, protection and loyalty |
| fief | Large tracts of land divided by the king and granted to vassals |
| serf | a peasant who was bound to the land and manor |
| feudalism | political, economic and social system based on the granting of land in exchange for service, protection, and loyalty |
| baliff | tax collector on the fief |
| knight | male, usually from nobility, trained to fight and protect the fief and fight for the king |
| manor | the large estate of the noble/lord, including the village, land and surrounding forest. |
| lord | noble in charge of the manor & vassal to the king |
| manorial system | an economic system in the Middle Ages that was built around a self-sufficient manor. |
| freemen | skilled craftsmen, merchants, blacksmiths, millers, etc. who paid rent to the lord to work and live on the manor |
| tithe | a tax paid to the church that was equal to 1/10 of a person's income - everyone paid a tithe, even peasants |
| chivalry | a knight's code of conduct - bravery, loyalty, generosity, fairness |