Feudalism: a political, military and economic system based on land holding and protective alliances

The Feudal Pyramid
- king
- powerful vassals and nobles/bishops
- knights - mounted warriors who received fiefs for defending their lords land
- peasants/ serfs - landless, powerless, money less, right less just working the land for the lord

Manor: the lords estate
- the lords manor
- a church
- some workshops
- 15-30 families
- all on a few square miles

peasants are poor and pay high taxes
- tax on grain
- tax on marriage
- church tax (tithe= 10%  of their income)
they live in crowded cottages
live with animals and insects
eat very simply