Middle Ages

• feudalism: a political, military and economic system based on land-holding and protected alliances.
• in other words: the system is based on personal loyalty to people who can help you
• rich dude (lord): "I own land; I need people to help me work and defend it."
• tough dudes (vassals): "There are a lot of us, we can help the rich dudes hold onto their land."
• (in order)
• KING
• the most powerful VASSALS (NOBLES and BISHOPS)
• KNIGHT - mounted warriors who received FIEFS for defending their lord's land
• PEASANTS(mostly SERFS) - landless, powerless, moneyless, right-less; just working the land for "the man" (their lord)
• MANOR: the lord's estate
• the lord's manor house
• a church
• some workshops
• 15-30 families
• all on a few square miles
• good news: its a self-sufficient community
• bad news: its harsh if you're a peasant
• PEASANTS ARE POOR AND HIGH TAXES 
• tax on grian 
• tax on marriage
• church...(that's as far as we got today