Chapter 14 Review and Assessment

How could one person be a lord and a vassal at the same time?

A vassal could also be a lord. If a lord receives a reef from a king he could become a vassal for that king or lord.

Do you think the crusades helped or hurt Europe?

Although crusaders did capture the holy land for a while, they were never able to gain form control of it. Still, the Crusades brought important and lasting changes to Europe. The European ships that carried crusaders and their supplies to the holy land returned with rugs, jewelry, glass , and spices. Soon, theses hoods were in great demand in Europe. Thus, the Crusades helped revive trade, which in turn led to the growth of towns and cities. The Crusades also encourages the use of money in Europe. For much of the Middle Ages, most people bartered, or trades goods for other goods or for land or protection. But the Crusaders went far from home, sheer they needed to buy supplies. In that cases, it was easier to use money than it was to barter. Returning Crusaders also brought new ideas and technology back to Europe. You have read about the advances made by Arabs in medicine, mathematics, and technology. The crusaders helped increase European knowledge on these techniques. Europeans learned how to make better ships and maps skills that would help them become world wide explores and in tern America.

Where did towns spring up during the Middle Ages?

At first, local goods were traded in the markets of small villages. As trade grew, so did these markets. Some developed into major trade fairs. Most major trade centers or towns with major fairs are located on the coast so boats can get there easier.

How was the growth of medieval towns related to the growth of guids?

By about 1300, many towns in Western Europe were growing into cities. Paris, with a population approaching 100,000, was one of the largest cities in the world. Town life was not at all like farm or manor life. Towns and cities were not self sufficient. Instead, their economies were based on the exchange of money for goods and services. A new class of people developed, made up of merchants, traders, and crafts workers. In status, it was between nobles and peasants, and so it was called middle class. In many towns and cities, the merchants, traders, and crafts workers began to form associations called guilds. A guild included all people who practiced a certain trade or craft. Thus there was a guild of weavers, a guild of grocers, a guild of shoemakers, and so on. Guilds set prices and prevented outsiders from selling goods in town. They set stander ends for the quality of their goods. Guild members paid dues. This money was used to help needy members or to support the families of members who had died. It took a long time to become a member of a guild. Between the ages of 8 and 14, a boy who wanted to learn a certain trade became an apprentice, or unpaid worker being trained in a craft. He lived and worked in the home of a master of that trade for as long as seven years. Then he could become a journeyman, or salaried worker. In time, if guild officials judged that the journeyman's work mat their standards, he could join the guild.

Why was the church so powerful in the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, life was short and hard for most people. They were comforted by the Christian Belief that they would enjoy the rewards of heaven after death if they lived according to church teachings. The church also held that if people didn't obey those rules, they would be punished after death. The promise of reward combined with treat of punishment made most people follow the teachings of the church. The church Aldo had great economic power. It gained great wealth by collecting taxes. It also took fiefs from lords in exchange for services preformed by clergy, or persons either authority to preform religious services. In fact, the church was the single largest owner if land in Europe during the Middle Ages. The combination of religious and economic power enabled the church to take on many of the roles that government preforms today. It even made laws and set set up courts to enforce them. People who did not obey the church were threatened with being excommunicated. Excommunication means being expelled from membership in the church and participation in church life. This was a very serious threat. Few people would associate with someone who had been excommunicated. High church officials were advisors to kings or lords. The ever present threat of excommunication gave church officials great influence in political matters. The church used its authority to limit feudal warfare.

What was "The Church" in the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, nearly all people in Western Europe were Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church had so much influence that it was known simply as "The Church". Why was the church so powerful? There were many reasons. During the Middle Ages, life was short and hard for most people. They were comforted by the Christian Belief that they would enjoy the rewards of heaven after death if they lived according to church teachings. The church also held that if people didn't obey those rules, they would be punished after death. The promise of reward combined with treat of punishment made most people follow the teachings of the church. The church Aldo had great economic power. It gained great wealth by collecting taxes. It also took fiefs from lords in exchange for services preformed by clergy, or persons either authority to preform religious services. In fact, the church was the single largest owner if land in Europe during the Middle Ages. The combination of religious and economic power enabled the church to take on many of the roles that government preforms today. It even made laws and set set up courts to enforce them. People who did not obey the church were threatened with being excommunicated. Excommunication means being expelled from membership in the church and participation in church life. This was a very serious threat. Few people would associate with someone who had been excommunicated. High church officials were advisors to kings or lords. The ever present threat of excommunication gave church officials great influence in political matters. The church used its authority to limit feudal warfare. It declared periods of truce, or temporary peace. That was one reason warfare began to decline during the 1100s.

How did manorialism help support feudalism?

In medieval Europe, feudalism was a system of power and economic relations across regions. Manorialism was a system of economic and political life at the local level. This system was based on the manor, a large estate that included farm fields, pastures, and often an entire village. It also included a large house, called the manor house, where the lord, or ruler, of the manor lived.

What was a manor, and how did it meet peoples needs?

Manorialism was a system of economic and political life at the local level. This system was based on the manor, a large estate that included farm fields, pastures, and often an entire village. It also included a large house, called the manor house, where the lord, or ruler, of the manor lived. The Lord of the manor was typically a vassal of a king or a more powerful lord. The manor was part of his fief. Most manors were far from towns, villages, and other manors. Therefore, they had to be self sufficient, or able to supply their own needs. Food, clothing, and other things needed by the people were made there.

What factors led to nation building in Europe in the later Middle Ages

One reason for the decline of the feudal system was the growth of trade and towns. Kings began to support the new towns in exchange for money. They agreed to protect towns and made laws to help towns grow rich. Then, with the money paid by townspeople, kings hired armies and used then to attack troublesome nobles. The crusades also weakened the nobles. Many gave up land to raise money so they could join the Crusades. Other nobles were killed in the Crusades, and kings claimed their land. Over time, king became more and more powerful. Instead of a patchwork of fiefs ruled by many nobles, large areas of Europe became united under a single king. The kings became strong enough to challenge the church. Gradually, theses larger kingdoms began yo turn Ito nations. A nation is a community of people that shares territory and a government. A common language and culture also often unite the people of a nation. The process of combining smaller communities into a single nation with a national identity and a national government is called nation building. In the late Middle Ages, the idea of nationhood was taking hold in Europe.

What were the Crusades?

Over the next 200 years, the Church launched eight military expeditions, called the Crusades, to capture the holy land. The word comes from crux, the Latin word for cross. People who carried the Christian cross into battle against non Christian enemy were called crusaders.

What is a nation building?

Over time, king became more and more powerful. Instead of a patchwork of fiefs ruled by many nobles, large areas of Europe became united under a single king. The kings became strong enough to challenge the church. Gradually, theses larger kingdoms began yo turn Ito nations. A nation is a community of people that shares territory and a government. A common language and culture also often unite the people of a nation. The process of combining smaller communities into a single nation with a national identity and a national government is called nation building. In the late Middle Ages, the idea of nationhood was taking hold in Europe.

How did she influence the out come of the hundred years' war?

The hundreds years' war dragged on, fought by one king after another. England won most of the battles, but the French continued to fight. However, the title turned in 1429 when a peasant girl called Joan of Arc took charge of the French forces at the battle of Orleans. French troops at Orleans greeted her with hope and curiosity. Under her command, the French defeated the English at Orleans. She led her forces into victory in other battles. In 1430, Joan was taken prisoner by allies of the English. England tried Joan for witchcraft. She was convicted and burned at the steak. The French saw Joan of Arc as a martyr, and her death inspired them into many victories. By 1453, the English had been driven out of most of France. With the English troops in retreat, France was on its way to becoming a strong and united nation.

What was the relationship of surfs to the manor?

The majority of the people of medieval Europe were not lords, ladies, or knights. They were peasants, a group of people who made their living as farmers and laborers. Their lives were very different from the lives of nobles. Most peasants were also serfs. Serfs were peasants who were considered to be part of the manor. When a noble was given a manor as part of his fief, it's serfs become his. They could not leave the manor, or even get married, without his permission. Although serfs were tied to manors, they were not quite slaves. Successful serfs could save money to buy freedom and a plot of land of their own. A serf who escalated to a city and lives their for a year and a day without being caught also became free. Most serfs, however, remained serfs their hole lives.

Who was Joan of Arc?

The young girl who would become one of Frances greatest heroes was the daughter of a tenant farmer. Joan was very religious and believed that she saw heavenly visions. In 1492, when she journeyed to the court of Charles, the heir to the French throne. She convinced him that god had called her to lead the French forces at the battle of Orleans. Charles finally agreed. He gave Joan armor, attendants, horses, and a special banner to carry into battle. You can that banner in a statue of Joan, which stands in Paris.

In the feudal system, what was the role of a lord? Of a vassal?

Under feudalism, land was owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in return for their loyalty. Lords promised to treat their vassals with honor, in addition, the chief duty of lords was to protect their vassals and their lands. If a vassal with young children died, for example, The Lord became the children's protector. The Lord also asked his vassals' advice before making laws or going to war. Vassals were expected to raise and lead armies that would fight for their lord. Many of theses vassals were knights, professional horse soldiers who led other men into battle. Vassals also appeared at the lord's court when commanded to do so. And they paid taxes, often in the form of crops, to their lord.