Post on 30-Dec-2015
I. Feudalism= -European society during the Middle Ages -there were no longer any great empires -only small feudal states -Nobles owned land given to them by a king
and offered protection to those who agreed to work the land
-In the center of these small areas was a castleA) Vassals & Knights= -A vassal is a noble who serves a lord for
protection -in return for his service he is given a fief to
govern
B) Knights=-warriors in armor= best fighting force of the time-stirrups allowed them to ride horses & carry a
lance-followed a code- chivalry -Knights were expected to be brave, respect
women, honor the church, help people, be honest, and fight fairly
C) Manorial System= -Manor= AKA fief-lords owned land & peasants worked it-freemen paid lords to work land=could leave at
any time
-serfs= had no rights & could not leave
-not a slave
-gave portion of crops to lord for use of land
-lord had to protect serf
-serfs could not be bought of sold
D) Important Inventions=
1) Plow
2) Horse Collar
3) Windmills & Watermills
E) Castles= built for protection from invaders -most built of stone -motte= steep sided hill surrounded the castle -The keep= the main castle was built on the
motteII. Kingdoms & CrusadesA) William the Conqueror= -Battle of Hastings- 1066 defeated Godwinson -crowned King of England -Domesday Book=census of kingdom -changed English culture
B) The Magna Carta=
-King John raised taxes & punished people w/out a trial
-nobles refused to follow him unless he guaranteed certain rights
-Nobles forced KJ to sign Magna Carta
-King couldn’t raise taxes unless agreed to by Great Council
-guaranteed jury trial
-King had duties
*est. idea that people have basic rights & power of government should be limited*
C) The Crusades=
-The Byzantine Empire came under attack from Muslims
-King didn’t have money for defense=asked pope for help
-Pope Urban II declared a holy war on Muslims & encouraged them to take back Jerusalem
-1st Crusade= captured the region around Jerusalem
-after 10 crusades the Muslims had regained the land taken in the 1st Crusade
* Crusades had 2 effects on Europe* 1) Increased trade between Europe & Middle
East 2) Ended feudalism-both of these allowed King to gain power
III. Late Middle AgesA) The Black Death -disease carried by fleas which infested black
rats -In 4 years 38 million people died -1 out of 2 people died
-trade declined & workers were in demand -helped to end feudalism -”Ring around the rosie”B) 100 Years War -England v France -England claimed land in France -war lasted 100 yearsC) Joan of Arc -Joan convinced King that saints had
convinced her to help fight -inspired the troops & they won -English captured & tried her for heresy -burned her @ the stake