Chapter 9 & 10: Medieval Europe

What happened to Europe after the fall of Rome?

- Many Germanic groups dominated - Government became smaller and less powerful - Less long-distance trade - Less learning and devotion to Greek and Roman culture - Rise in Christianity - Cities disappeared and rise in villages and farms

What role did knights have in feudalism and medieval life?

-- lesser nobles or vassals, fought for lords in return for land. --Battles for knights could be castle attacks or one on one battles

What was the Bubonic plague?

--Epidemic that struck western Europe and Asia in mid-1300s --Killed ⅓ of Europe

Middle Ages

Around a 1,000 year period between 500-1450 in Europe where there were a lot small kingdoms that often fought one another.

Who lived at a monastery?

Monks

What role did serfs play in feudalism and medieval life?

performed farming and work on manors/considered part of the property/peasants/bottom of society

What is the order or hierarchy of church officials?

pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, monks and nuns

Who was Charlemagne?

ruler of the Franks during late 700s.

how did the church affect the government and daily life?

--Government:Many nobles and church leaders were allies, had much in common. Church leaders helped politicians run their kingdoms. Priests kept records of births and deaths which helped leaders run daily life. --Daily life: the church play the most important role in education

What was Charlemagne known for?

--He expanded territory and built a European empire as awesome as ancient Rome. --Organized the empire and made lots of new laws to keep order --Had many landowner counts govern regions --Expanded Christianity a lot - deeply religious

What was the social hierarchy (social order from highest to lowest) during feudal Europe?

--King - ruler --Church officials and nobles (lords and vassals) - owed a lot of land and had power and wealth --Knights: lesser nobles who paid military service to nobles some in return for land --Serfs (peasants): worked the land for nobles, considered part of the property

What activities took place at the monastery?

--Monks studied Christian books and prayed, made copies of the Bible --Monasteries helped spread and promote Christianity even more

Define lords/nobles

--Powerful landowning nobles --Gave pieces of their land to the vassals who protected it

Why was the church so powerful?

--The church had a lot of money and property, so it gave them a lot of power. --Pope was sometimes richer than king, so they had more authority over people.

How do lords/nobles fit in the feudal structure?

--They were above a vassal but under the king and church people

Define vassal

--Was a noble who owned land --One rank lower than a lord --The vassal defended the lord's property --Paid lord's taxes for their fief (parcel of land)

Explain the system of feudalism in Europe.

--a political and social system based on an agreement between two groups of nobles - lords and vassals. --It was way for lords to hold on to their property while there was so much war going on. --The vassals would protect the lord's property and pay service in the lord's court. In exchange the lords would give the vassals a parcel of land (fief). --The vassals would not only protect the lord's property but also pay taxes for their fief.

Why was the Bubonic plague known as the Black Death?

--people got black spots on skin and died within a few days

Define fief

--plots of land given to a vassal by a lord.

How did the plague lead to the decline of feudalism in Europe?

--so many people died, so wars stopped, trade went down, farming had few people to do the work. --As people recovered from the plague, there was huge demand for healthy labor, so less serfs/cheap labor. --Healthy workers could travel to find better paying jobs - off the manor.

What was Clovis known for?

-Clovis defeated a lot other weak Germanic groups, built large kingdom. -He converted to Christianity and made his subjects do so too.

Who was Clovis?

-main leader who spread Christianity, leader of Franks. -He defeated the last Roman army.

Describe Europe's geography

1. Europe is bordered by Atlantic, Arctic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea and the Ural Mountains on the east. Lots of access to water on the borders 2. The topography is diverse: Lots of mountain ranges, plains and farmlands and rivers for travel and trade 3. Lots of forests, farmlands and rivers allowed the small kingdoms to thrive on their own

What is a manor?

A manor was the main area of noble's land with a house at center, a lord's house - could be a fortified building or castle

How does the manor relate to life in medieval Europe?

Manor life was a world unto itself. People could do everything they needed on the manor and not trade with outsiders. People hardly ever left the manor.

Define clergy

People given priestly authority by the church, church leaders

What was the monastery used for?

Places where religious people lived devoted to God

What is the code of chivalry?

The code chivalry: code of honor knights had to follow, show loyalty, bravery, Christian faith, help the weak

Describe the relationship between lords and vassals

The lord gave land to the vassal. In exchange, the vassal defended the lord's land (some were knights) in his court and army. The vassal paid taxes to the lord for the vassal's own parcel of land.

What factors led to the rise of feudalism in Europe?

The unstable and violent period when groups like the Vikings, the Muslims and Magyars attacked Europe. Life was very chaotic and full of war.

How does fief relate to the concept of feudalism?

The vassal paid taxes to the lord for their fief. Because the lord gave the vassal the land, the vassal owed him service in his court. This kept feudalism going. This agreement made it possible for lords to keep their land in this time warfare because they had the vassals fight for them.

What activities took place on the manor?

all activities for daily life/self-sufficient, farming, woodworking, wine making