Lesson 2The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe

2.1 ~ Introduction

1. Rome fell in the year of 476 c.e. What started after the fall of

Rome?

After the fall of Rome, the Middle Ages began. The Middle Ages can be broken up into three sections:

Early Middle Ages ~ 476-1000 c.e.

High Middle Ages ~ 1000-1300

Late Middle Ages ~ 1300-1450

2. What is feudalism and why was it needed?

Feudalism is an economic and political system.

It was needed because after the fall of Rome, there were barbarians and other kingdoms trying to invade Europe. This made Western Europe a dangerous and difficult place to live.

3. What groups of people are part of the feudal system?

The groups of people within the feudal system are: lords, knights and peasants.

The monarch (king/queen) is at the top of the feudal pyramid.

4. What do you notice about the shape of the pyramid and how it relates to the power within the

feudal society?

The pyramid is large at the bottom and then gets smaller when it reaches the top.

This is very much the way that feudalism works. There are more people at the bottom who do not have much power and as you move through the feudal hierarchy, the higher you go the more power and less people there are at the top.

2.2 ~ Western Europe during the middle ages

1. Why didn’t Europe have a central government after Rome

fell?

Europe didn’t have a central government or system of defense because it had fallen into ruins after the fall of Rome. There were too many groups of barbarians in Rome after it fell and they didn’t have Rome in their best interests.

2. What group usually had the most power during this time period when Europe didn’t have a central

government? Why?

The group that had the most land and the best army or defense had the most power in Europe when Rome fell and it didn’t have a central government.

3. Why were the Franks a successful barbaric group?

The Franks are from the area that we refer to as France now.

They were a successful barbaric group because they had a new style of warfare which consisted of knights who were armed warriors that fought on horses.

In order to have the knights remain loyal in times of battle, the leader (ruler) promised land or other rewards to the knights upon victory.

4. Why was Charlemagne thought to be the most important leader of the Franks? List three

of his ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Charlemagne was known as Charles the Great.

He ruled from 768 until 814 and he was thought as “stately and dignified”.

His Accomplishments:

Unified nearly all the Christian land of Europe into ONE EMPIRE.

He encouraged education and art of learning.

In order to build his empire, he received the help of the pope which was extremely important.

5. Charlemagne was crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” by the Catholic Church in 800 c.e.

Why would this be significant as a leader?

Since Charlemagne was crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” it shows the people that the Catholic church had his back and trusted him completely.

With this blessing from the church, the people believe that Charlemagne had “God on his side”.

6. Why did Charlemagne’s empire fall apart after his death?

Even though many of these new leaders followed the new system of feudalism by rewarding knights rewards for military service, the new leaders weren’t strong enough to hold back new invasions from barbarians.

7. What did Charlemagne do for his knights that became the framework for feudalism in

Europe?

Charlemagne gave the knights land or other rewards for their loyalty and military service for his empire.

8.) What was the main reason for feudalism? (Think about the attacks from

the Muslims, Magyars, and the Vikings.)

The people of Europe needed ways to defend themselves against the attacks from the Muslims, Magyars, and the Vikings. They developed feudalism because this was a method of organizing authority as well as organizing armies.

2.3 ~ Feudalism: Establishing Order

1. During the High Middle Ages, what two groups owned most of

the land in Europe?

The two groups that owned the most land in Europe during the High Middle Ages were: the Monarchs (Kings/sometimes a Queen) & the Church.

2. Why do you think people who were born into a certain social class (peasants, knights, nobles, and monarchs) had the same position as well as job throughout their entire life and

the life of future children?

Answers will vary.

My Answer: During the Middle Ages, many people taught their children their particular job because in times of need, war, or even through arranged marriages. Their offspring (children) can help the family in different ways so they have been trained from early on in their lives and it was difficult to break that chain or to change the way it has been done.

2.4 ~ Monarchs: During feudal times

1. What was the job of a monarch (king or queen)

Monarchs are expected to keep order and to provide protection for their vassals. Vassals are the monarch’s most important lords and the monarch gives pieces of land to these lords in return for protection IF the monarch gets into trouble.

2. Why was William known as William the Conqueror?

William became known as William the Conqueror when he beat his cousin, Harold, for the English throne in the Battle of Hastings.

3. What concept did William the Conqueror bring to England?

William brought the concept of feudalism to England.

2.5 ~ Lords and ladies during feudal times

1. Why were castles important within the lord’s community?

A castle was built to serve as a lord’s home, but more importantly it was built as a method of military technology in order to give protection for anyone who lived in them.

2. List five features of a castle:

moat

gates

walls

tall towers

bailey (enclosed court)

3. What were the duties of a lord who “owned” the manor?

It was the lord’s responsibility to manage and defend his land.

The lord made sure that everyone within his land were doing their jobs.

The lord also acted as judges in the manor courts, and he had the power to fine and punish those who broke the law.

Some lords held posts in the king’s government.

Lords also supplied knights during war.

4. If someone stated that living in a manor home/castle was glamorous, what evidence could you state that it wasn’t always a great

experience?As stated in the textbook, lives were not easy in castles. Areas were only lit by candles, and they could only keep warm by open fires. Castles could be cold and gloomy with little or no privacy. Also there were fleas and lice that were part of all medieval buildings probably because people or people’s clothes were hardly washed.

In times of war, the people living on the manor would often go to the castle during war so there would be so many people living in and around your own living quarters.

2.6 ~ Knights during feudal times

1. Why was it costly to be a knight during the Middle Ages?

Knights had to purchase their own suit of armor as well as their horse.

2. List the jobs as well as the age of each stage in order to become a

knight:

Page: begins at the age of 7

Job description: A page learned how to ride a horse, received religious instruction, helped around the castle for the ladies and the ladies taught them how to sing, dance, compose music, and play the harp.

2. List the jobs as well as the age of each stage in order to become a

knight:

Squire: began at age: around 14 years old

Job description: He spent some of his time training with a knight. He observed the knight and helped the knight with his armor, weapons, etc. He learned how to fight with a sword and a lance. He also went into battle with his knight and helped him prepare for battle or to stay with him if his knight was wounded.

2. List the jobs as well as the age of each stage in order to become a

knight:

Knight: Began at early 20s.

Job description: Only if you were well equipped to become a knight, you were made one during a “knighting” ceremony. However, if a squire did very well in battle, they could be welcomed into “knighthood” immediately.

3. What new technology ended the profession of “knights” during

the Middle Ages?

The invention of gunpowder as well as cannons ended the career of knights.

2.7 ~ Peasants During feudal times

1. What was the main purpose of having peasants on your manor?

The peasants were required to work the land so this freed up the lords and knights to prepare for war or fighting.

2. What was the difference between “Free” and “Unfree”

peasants?

Free Peasants: They rented their land from the lord to farm and owed on their rent to the lord.

Unfree Peasants: They are called serfs and they farmed the lord’s fields and could not leave the lord’s estate. In return, they received a small piece of land for their own to farm.

3. Define these terms which were connected to peasants.

Head money: Yearly Tax which was the same for every person.

Tallage: A tax that the lord can demand if the lord needed money.

Merchet: This is a tax when a woman married, this tax was paid by the bride’s father or her husband.

3. What do these terms tell you about a peasant’s life on the

feudal manor?

Answers will Vary!

My opinion: These terms tell me that the peasants were heavily taxed and that they were expected to give the lord not only a payment in physical labor, but also their payment in taxes as well.