06.03 The Development of Feudalism and Manorialism in Europe (R. A.F. T.) 7TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
Assignment 06.03 The Development of Feudalism and Manorialism (R. A.F. T.)
Directions: In Lesson 06.03, you studied the development of feudalism and manorialism and the importance of contracts between individuals in medieval society. For this assignment, you will follow the R. A.F. T. format to draw up two feudal contracts: the first contract will be between a lord and his vassal (knight), and the second contract will be between a vassal (knight) and his serf. The sample feudal contract on page 3 is adapted from a contract made in the year 1110 C. E. Read the passage and use it as a model to create your own contracts.
Role: Lawyer
Audience: A lord, a vassal (knight), and a serf
Format: Contract
Topic: Draw up a contract between a lord and his vassal (knight) and a contract between a vassal (knight) and his serf. Include the roles, responsibilities, and rights of each party. The following charts will help you organize your work.
Don't forget to use complete sentences, proofread your answer, and use the rubric on the final page to guide your work. This assignment is worth 100 points.

The Lord
Role (What was this person’s job in medieval society?)
Responsibilities (What were this person’s duties for his vassals?)
Rights (What could this person expect from his vassals?)

The Knight
Role (What was this person’s job in medieval society?)
Responsibilities (What were this person’s duties for his lord?)
Rights (What could this person expect from his lord?)

The Serf
Role (What was this person’s job in medieval society?)
Responsibilities (What were this person’s duties for his lord?)
Rights (What could this person expect from his lord?)

Sample Feudal Contract
Vassal Atton:
I, Bernard Atton, Lord and viscount of Carcassonne, acknowledge to my lord Leo, abbot of St. Mary of Grasse, that I hold as fief in Carcassonne the following castles and manors…For all of these fiefs, I swear that I will always be a faithful vassal to thee and I will defend thee, my lord, against all invaders. Moreover, I acknowledge that, as a recognition of the above fiefs, I and my successors ought to come to the monastery of St. Mary of Grasse as often as a new abbot shall have been made. And when the abbot shall mount his horse, my heirs ought to hold the stirrup. The first time the new abbot enters Carcassonne, I will supply him with the best fish and eat and with eggs and cheese and pay for the expense of shoeing his horse. And if I or my sons or their successors do not observe to thee or thy successors each and all the things declared above, we wish that the aforesaid fiefs should be handed over to thee and thy successors.
Lord Leo:
I, therefore, the aforesaid lord Leo, conceded to thee all the castles and the manors as a fief. And I promise to thee and thy heirs that I will be a good and faithful lord concerning all those things described above.

Contract between the Lord and Vassal
I, Lord(insert name)of(insert town)
In the body, include the role, the responsibilities, and the rights of the higher-ranking lord.
I, Lord(insert name)of(insert town)
In the body, include the role, the responsibilities, and the rights of the vassal (knight) of a higher-ranking lord.

Enacted in __(insert town)__, in the year of grace 1219, in the month of February.

Contract between the Vassal (Knight) and Serf
I, Lord(insert name)of(insert town)
I, (insert name)of(insert town)
In the body, include the role, the responsibilities, and the rights of a serf on the vassal’s (knight’s) manor.
Enacted in __(insert town)__, in the year of grace 1219, in the month of February.