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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website Produced by Coronet Films as part of the Coronet Educational Films series in 1950, this black-and-white educational short titled “The Meaning of Feudalism” discusses, as the title suggests, the feudal system that flourished in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries and the castles that acted as the center of life. This particular film looks at how feudalism evolved in France and how remnants of this medieval model of government continue to be found across the country. The film follows a young French boy, Jacques, as he takes the viewer on a tour of a local medieval castle in his village. Educational collaborator William young Ph.D., Divisional Director of the University of the State of New York, worked with Coronet Films group to make this film. Coronet Films (also known as Coronet Instructional Media, Inc.) was a leading producer and distributor of many documentary shorts shown in public schools across America from the 1940s through the 1980s. Title page, opening credits (0:09). Aerial view of Paris, hotels/ apartments and streets along banks of the Seine River (0:11). Street scenes: French people walking along tree-lined sidewalk in commercial area, wearing 1940s fashion (0:19). Wheat crop sways in wind on hillside, camera pans up to reveal perhaps Bonaguil Castle, Aquitaine (0:36). Facade of medieval French church built in perhaps French Romanesque architectural style (1:00). Farm land in valley just below Bonaguil Castle (1:05). Map of Kingdom of France during the Middle Ages, dotted lines show how kingdom was divided into domains (1:12). Example of French medieval village, shots of building exteriors of traditional half-timbered homes like those seen in Colmar, France (1:32). Jacques exits courtyard of home and climbs up wild shrub-lined hill towards castle (1:48). Jacques shows sketch in notebook of typical design of feudal castle, highlights different architectural components of castle: main gate, courtyard, dungeon, draw bridge, moat (2:41). Camera pans down into lower depths of moat, POV of underside of drawbridge while looking up from moat (3:02). Close-up once again of Jacques’ sketch, highlighting inner courtyard enclosed by thick stone castle walls (3:35). Jacques walks through main gate and enters inner courtyard and points out various design components: the well, big tower called the keep or dungeon (3:48). Interior rooms of castle, insight into lives of feudal lords and ladies: brick fireplace with either carved stone or marble mantel, medieval tapestries hang from walls (4:37). Montage examples of tapestries revealing style of decorative arts, scenes of day to day life, fashion of feudal lords and ladies (4:54). Display of full medieval French steel plate armor suit worn by knight, suit consists of helmet, gorget/bevor, spaulders, pauldrons with gardbraces to cover armpits, cuirass (chest plait), rerebraces, counters, vambraces, gauntlets etc. (5:36). Another example of full medieval French steel plate armor suit on horseback with steel lance, Armet helmet (5:45). Example painting of feudal lord knighting one of his vassals in court, display of loyalty (5:56). Close-up once again of Jacques’ sketch, highlighting chapel - religious center of feudal life (6:07). Exterior details doorway of medieval French church - carved faces of feudal lord and ladies, figurine of feudal knight with sword and shield (6:24). Series of paintings exemplifying knights code of conduct/ duties, “code of chivalry” (6:40). Two clergymen in medieval monk-hooded robes survey land (7:01). Wide shot of perhaps Bonaguil Castle, surrounding farm lands known as “the manor” (7:35). Illustrated diagram depicting layout of feudal manor, footage cuts to footage of Jacques looking out at cultivated fields (7:37). Montage paintings depicting works of feudal serfs/ peasants tending to the land (8:04). “Contemporary” French farmers tend to form manor lands in foreground, perhaps Bonaguil Castle on hilltop in background - man rides around field on cattle-pulled plow, fallow land (8:25). Aerial view rooftops of medieval town, demise of feudal system across Europe, closing words by narrator (9:00). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
