6 ANALYSING IMAGES EXTENSION

1. Feudal society

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� Look at the pictures below. To which social group in feudal Europe does each person belong? And towhich type of estate (privileged or non-privileged)?

a) b) c)

� Look at the pictures below, which show the work that medieval peasants did at different times of year,then answer the questions that follow.

a) What tasks did the peasants do in the different seasons of the year? Did women help with any of thesetasks?

b) How important was peasants’ work in the feudal economy?

January and FebruaryThe cold and snow made itimpossible to work in the fields, sothey did domestic tasks.

March, April and MayThey pruned fruit trees and sowedspring cereals (barley and oats).

JuneAt the beginning of summer, theysheared the sheep to get wool.

NovemberIt was very important to look afterthe livestock. The pigs were fattenedfor slaughter.

OctoberThey sowed autumn cereals (wheat,rye and other cereals).

August and SeptemberThey separated the wheat fromhe straw andmilled the grainto make flour.

DecemberThey had to get ready for winter. Theycollected firewood and marinatedmeat to preserve it.

JulyThey harvested the crops by handusing rudimentary tools.

6 ANALYSING IMAGES EXTENSION

1. Feudal society

� a) peasant, non-privileged estate

b) knight, privileged estate

c) monk, privileged estate

� a) In spring, they pruned fruit trees and sowed spring cereals (barley and oats). In summer, they sheared sheep, harvestedthe crops, separated the wheat from the straw and milled the grain to make flour. In autumn, they sowed autumn cereals(wheat, rye, etc.) and fattened the pigs for slaughter. In the harshest winter months, they collected firewood, preservedmeat and did various domestic tasks.

Women helped with all of these tasks.

b) Peasants’ work was essential because they produced all the food that was eaten in the fief: they grew crops, rearedlivestock, picked wild fruit, collected honey, etc.

© Oxford University Press España S. A. Social Sciences ESO 2

Answer key