The Middle Ages

Growth of cities

On tapestry

Fief

• Vassal: anyone who serves the lord in a military way.

Feudal Contract: Unwritten Rules that formed Feudalism

Nobles

• Kings

• Dukes

• Counts

• Barons

• Bishops

• Lords

• Knights

Chivalry

The Growth of Cities in Medieval Europe

Changes in Technology

Water and Wind Power Iron Sharing animals

Three field Crop Rotation

The Manorial System

• Manor: agricultural estate that a lord ran and peasants worked

• Peasants began to become serfs (peasant legally bound to the land

– Couldn’t leave without permission

– Lords had political authority

– The serfs land could not be taken away

The Revival of Trade • Mostly small villages trade fairs

• Trade increased…. So they created a

MONEY SYSTEM to replace barter

• New trading companies and banks were set up

Growth of cities

• Old cities became popular again

• New ones began to emerge

• Lords sold rights to the townspeople of towns on their land

– Including freedom for serfs

• People flood into towns

• Governments get set up

Some results of towns

• Guilds

• Tradesmen: metalwork, shoes, leather, bakers etc.