THE MIDDLE AGES

Unit 11

Vocabulary

Middle Ages: the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the modern era, from A.D. 476 to 1453

Medieval: from the Middle ages Feudalism: a political system in which lords gave land to

vassals in exchange for services Lord: a powerful landowner Vassal: a less wealthy noble who pied taxes to and

served a lord in exchanges for land Knight: a vassal trained in combat who fought on behalf

of lords Serf: a person who lived and worked on the manor of a

lord or vassal Manor: a noble’s house and the villages on his land

where the peasants lived

Background Information

We are about to study the beginning of a period after the fall of the Roman Empire. Which led to the period called the Middle Ages or the “dark ages”. The collapse of this empire was a very dark period. Barbarians swarmed the empire and all intellectual, government, and modernized inventions (roads, aqueducts, bricks, and concrete) were briefly lost.

The Result of the Fall of the Roman Empire

Many small kingdoms replaced the Roman Empire.

Roads and water systems were not kept up, trade declined, economies slowed, and towns shrank

Invaders threatened Europe.[Huns, Moors, and Vikings]

The Result of the Fall of the Roman Empire A new leader steps up: Charlemagne (a strong

military leader) who help control France and Germany.

After Charlemagne’s, the new strong military leader, death Europe was once again in disorder.

Europeans then turned to political system called feudalism

Charlemagne A court attendant described Charlemagne as

at least six feet tall and strong, with piercing eyes and light hair. Charlemagne was alert, forceful, and concerned about the moral welfare of his empire, bringing Christianity to the peoples he conquered. He established a system of justice and made his court a center of learning and culture. Historians believe Charlemagne is a key figure in European history since he paved the way for later movements toward political, intellectual, and cultural unity.

Feudalism Increasing violence and lawless

countryside

Weak turn to the strong for protection, strong want something from the weak

Feudalism worked because of the notion of mutual obligation, or voluntary co-operation from serf to noble

A man’s word was the cornerstone of social life

Feudalism

KING

LORDS (VASSALS TO KING)

KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS)

Fief and Peasants

Military Aid

Food Protection Shelter

Food Protection Shelter

PEASANTS (SERFS)

Pay Rent

Fief and Peasants

Food Protection Shelter

Farm the Land

Homage Military Service

Loyalty

FEUDALISM: POLITICAL SYSTEM

Decentralized, local government

Dependent upon the relationship between members of the nobility

Lord and his vassals administered justice and were the highest authority in their land

MANORIALISM: ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Agriculture the basis for wealth Lands divided up into self-sufficient

manors Peasants (serfs) worked the land

and paid rent In exchange for protection

Barter the usual form of exchange

Feudalism What can you learn from the pyramid about

which rank of people is greatest in number?

The bottom and biggest level of the pyramid symbolizes that the peasants outnumber the higher ranks

How might people of one rank feel about people in another rank?

The people of higher rank might fell they are superior; people of lower rank might resent those about them

Knight A boy would start training for

knighthood at about age seven. He would leave home and apprentice himself to another noble. He was taught to use weapons and proper manners. As teenage, the apprentice became valet, or manservant, to his mentor and rode into battle as his squire. Eventually the apprentice was dubbed a knight, usually in a ceremony that involved touching sword blade to the shoulder. The usefulness of knights in battle ended as the introduction of artillery changed military strategy.

The Role of the Church

The Catholic church was one thing that survived the fall of Rome.

The religion spread across Europe.

The church was the main source of education during the Middle Ages.

Church officials built universities where nobles could go and study.

Religion in The Middle Ages

The Catholic Church The Catholic Church was

the only church in Europe during the Middle Ages, and it had its own laws and large income.

Church leaders such as bishops and archbishops sat on the king's council and played leading roles in government.

Windows For security purposes,

windows, when they were present, were very small openings with wooden shutters that were closed at night or in bad weather.

The small size of the windows allowed those inside to see out, but kept outsiders from looking in.

Homes

Most medieval homes were cold, damp, and dark. Sometimes it was warmer and lighter outside the home than within its walls.

Peasants Homes Many peasant families

ate, slept, and spent time together in very small quarters, rarely more than one or two rooms. The houses had thatched roofs and were easily destroyed.