Unit 3 Europe in the Middle Ages

Day 14 Skinny 27-28

Unit 3 Essential Question

What political and economic systems emerged in the Middle Ages?

How was the Roman Catholic Church a unifying force?

Invasion! (Sound familiar?)

800-1000 Muslims from south Magyars from east Vikings from north

With so many invasions, people relied on themselves to defend their land

No central government or ruler was protecting them Local nobles who could arm the people gained authority

because they had the power to protect the land

Invasion! (Sound familiar?)

800-1000 Muslims from south Magyars from east Vikings from north

With so many invasions, people relied on themselves to defend their land

No central government or ruler was protecting them Local nobles who could arm the people gained authority

because they had the power to protect the land

Security/Freedom 911—Rollo (Viking) made peace with Charles the Simple

(King of France). Charles let Vikings take control over Normandy (northern

France) One of many agreements to stop invaders and bring peace

King Charles—Lord, or landowner

Rollo—Vassal

Gave up control of land to

Led to

Security—Peace for common people

Feudalism Vocabulary

lord—landowner fief—land granted to a vassal or knight to oversee vassal—wealthy landowner who runs the fief for the lord knights—mounted horsemen who pledge to defend their

lord's lands in exchange for fiefs serfs—bound to the land, could not leave it and all their

labor produced belonged to the lord

Manors—A Secure Place to Live

Manor = lord's estate

Economic system Economic agreement between the lord and

the serfs

Lord provides housing, farmlands, protection

Serf farms the land, tends the animals, maintains the manor

Job Security

Serf (this is most of the people—they could not leave the land) and peasant (every other poor person) owes lord certain duties

• Work for a few days each week for the lord• Turn over part of the grain from the area they

farm to the lord

Serfs/peasants kept some of the grain and other farm products to feed their families

Serfs/peasants lived in houses provided by the lord

Economics of Manor

Women, men, and older children were expected to work

Serfs & peasants raised/produced all needs• Crops• Milk & cheese• Fuel• Cloth• Leather goods• Lumber

Economics of Manors

They only had to buy a few items• Salt• Iron• Unusual objects such as millstones

Crops raised• Wheat• Rye• Barley• Oats• Vegetables

Who got to eat this stuff?

These were ground or processed at the mill

Economics of Manors

See page 362 in softcover text for places in a manor

Manor House—the lord and his family lived there Village Church—for religious and public meetings Peasant Cottages—homes for workers Lord's Demesne—fields owned by the lord,

where the peasants worked to fulfill their duty to the lord

Crofts—gardens where peasants grew their own food

Mill—usually on a creek or river, where grain was processed

Common pasture—animals grazed here Woodland—forest where they got wood to burn

as fuel

Mill—part of the self-sustaining economy

Mills were often powered by a water wheel over a stream

Gears turned so that the millstones rubbed against each other, grinding the grain which was placed on them to flour.

Main Idea Check

How did the decline of trade (remember the invaders had destroyed the business centers in their raids) make this type of economic system necessary?

Write down the best ideas from our class~

Manor Life—Not that great

Peasants paid for privilege of serving lord• Tax on all grain ground into flour at the mill• It was a crime to get your bread elsewhere• Marriage was taxed• Church charged a tithe, or church tax of 10% of

their income• Cottages were small and crowded• They lived with their pigs inside because they were

warm!• Straw beds were infested with bugs• Work, work, work for your lord and your own food

Manor Life—Still not too great

Life expectancy only 35 years

Most never traveled more than 25 miles from home.

The Church taught God gave your your position in life, so most were content.

What problems did peasants face?

Write a help wanted ad for serf

Example

Wanted: Employee willing to work long hours for only the food he or she can produce. Women and children welcome to apply. Contact Lord Hector at the manor house.

The best answer will have details about how hard the peasant's life will be, how much he has to give to the lord and the church, his housing, and life expectancy.

In Summary

serf

lord

manor

vassal knight

fief

tithe

Write statements with the words displayed. Participation rubric--100% for three words used correctly. 67% for two, 33% for one.