The Feudal System in France: (Read Scott's Quentin Durward.) Barons too powerful for the king for various reasons:
1. Their property was large and compact.
2. They administered justice, issued coinage, etc.
3. Vassals swore allegiance to their immediate superior.
By means of problem-questions develop from the pupils what William would probably do to strengthen his own position.
STEP IV
The Feudal System under William: (Note the innovations of William.)
1. The land belonged solely to the king; it was not the Normans as a tribe, but William personally, who conquered England.
2. The estates of the nobles were divided, either deliberately or because the land was conquered piecemeal and parcelled out as it was conquered. (For example, Odo had 473 manors in 17 counties.)
3. The vassals swore direct allegiance to the king.