THE MIDDLE AGES

Ms. Orville

FEUDALISM AND THE MANOR SYSTEM Middle Ages: 500-1500 CE

Medieval period Feudalism- land was owned by nobles but held by

vassals in return for loyalty Medieval government system Feudal duties: raise army and pay taxes

Manor system- people lived and worked on large estates owned by lords Medieval economic system

Self-sufficient- did not need anything outside of what was provided on the manor

Very little trading Noblewomen- important role running the manor Serfs= peasants

Very difficult life No chance to improve their life

VOCABULARY Middle ages- the years between ancient and modern

times Medieval- referring to the middle ages Feudalism- a system in which land was owned by kings or

lords but held by vassals in return for their loyalty Fief- a large piece of land granted by a king to a lord in

exchange for his loyalty Manor- a large estate, often including farms & a village.

Ruled by a lord Serf- a farm worker considered part of the manor on

which he or she worked Peasant- poor people who live and farm the land Vassal- a person who promised to fight when needed by

his lord, during the Middle Ages in exchange for land Lord- a noble in the middle ages Noble- a member of the wealthiest class of some societies Bourgeoisie- person belonging to the middle class

VOCABULARY Page- a young boy who

carried messages and waited on a lord

Squire- a servant of a knight at the lord’s court- trains to be a knight

Knight- a man who received honor & land in exchange for serving a lord as a soldier

Chivalry- the code of honorable conduct for knights

keep- strongest defense of the castle- tall tower where noble lives: has its own well and storage space

Guild- medieval organization of crafts workers or trades people

VOCABULARY Gothic- a style of architecture

used during the Middle Ages that featured pointed arches

Clergy- persons with authority to perform religious services

Excommunication- expelling someone from the Church

Monastery- a religious community in which monks lead lives of work and prayer

Convent- a religious community in which nuns lead simple lives of work and prayer

http://www.medieval-castle.com/architecture_design.htm

VOCAB Charter- a formal document setting forth an organization’s

goals & principles apprentice- an unpaid person training in a craft or trade Black Death- (Bubonic Plague) 14th century plague that killed

25-33% of Europe’s population Troubadour- a traveling poet & musician of the Middle Ages Holy land- Jerusalem & parts of the surrounding area where

Jesus lived & taught Crusades- a series of military expeditions launched by

Christian Europeans to win the holy land back from Muslim control

Pilgrims- a person who journeys to a sacred place Nation- a community of people that shares territory & a

government Model Parliament- a council of lords, clergy, & common people

that advised the English king on government matters Hundred Years War- a series of conflicts between England &

France 1337-1453

DO NOW: WHO PROTECTED THE MEDIEVAL CASTLES?

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES Knights were vassals

that made up the noble’s army

Cavalry- army on horseback Chivalry- purity, valor, good

manors3 stages of becoming a

knight Page Squire Knight

Castles: used as protection from invading armies

DO NOW: WHAT IS A NATION?

THE POWER OF KINGS

The Hundred Years WarHelped unify both

England and France into nations

THE CHURCH AND THE RISE OF CITIES During the Middle Ages, the

Roman Catholic Church was a powerful force that affected nearly every area of people’s lives Middle ages also known as “The

Age of Faith” Churches- highly organized:

Priests, bishops, archbishops, popes Increase in trade led to the

growth of towns and cities The new middle class organized

craft trade guilds Medieval towns and cities were

crowded and unsanitary Culture and learning were limited

to only a few people

THE CRUSADES 200 years Series of wars launched by

European Christians to capture Jerusalem from the Muslims

First crusade: captured Jerusalem

Later Crusades launched to defend Christians from Turks in Holy Land No true winner

Crusades changed life in Europe Trade increased Towns grew Use of money increased Learned about the Arab world

1347-1351: bubonic plague Spread by fleas and rats that lived in unsanitary towns Flagellants- punished themselves for sins in order to

avoid the plague Caused horrible black spots and almost certain death Killed 1/3-1/2 of Europe’s population Normal life broken down- labor shortage