THE MIDDLE AGES

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

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 such as the Huns, Moors and Vikings threatened Europe.

Constant warfare and conflict was common.

The Result of the Fall of the Roman EmpireA leader named Charlemagne brought much of

France and Germany under his control.

He worked with Church officials to try to strengthen the land.

After Charlemagne’s death, his grandsons divided his lands among the 3 of them. Europe was disorderly again.

As a result of the chaos, a new political system called feudalism came about.

Feudalism

Feudalism is a political system in which lords gave land to vassals in exchange for services.

Feudalism was based on the idea of the weak turning to the strong for protection and the strong wanting something in return for protection.

This political system kept Europe divided into many small kingdoms and estates.

As a result, land became the center of economic activity.

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

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.

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.