The Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages

2. 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

3. 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.

4. The Result of the Fall of the Roman Empire A 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.

5. 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.

6. 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: 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 KING Fief and Peasants Fief and Peasants Military Aid Loyalty LORDS (VASSALS TO KING) Food Protection Shelter Food Protection Shelter Military Service Homage KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS) Food Protection Shelter Pay Rent Farm the Land PEASANTS (SERFS)

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. 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.