Feudalism
What would it be like to be a serf?
What would it be like to be a serf?Click here to find
out!Vikings!
The Setting:Despite this political, linguistic and cultural
diversity, there were some elements which gave unity to the
European continent:Religion and the written culture. The religion
practiced throughout the continent was Christianity. Trade, led to
the exchange of something more important than goods: ideas.
5Insert a picture of one of the geographic features of your
country.Difficult Living ConditionsThe living conditions of the
European population around the year 1000 were very tough. Life
expectancy was short and those who surpassed the age of 40 were
regarded as old people.Mortality was very high. Wars were numerous,
diseases were frequent and there were no efficient remedies to
fight them. The population lived on the products they cultivated
and any disaster -such as droughts and floods- caused great
famine.More than half of the newborn children died before their
first year and many women died in childbirth.
6Insert a picture illustrating a season in your country.Unsafe
Medieval TimesDuring the 9th and 10th centuries, the European
continent was the target of new waves of invaders.The Normans or
Vikings originated in Scandinavia and settled in the British Isles
and Atlantic coasts.The Magyars from the steppes created a kingdom
in Hungary.The Slavs, from the Russian plains, settled in eastern
Europe and the Balkans.
The VikingsThe MagyarsThe Slavs7Add key points in the history of
your country to the timeline.Medieval SocietyMedieval society was
organized into three groups: nobles, knights and peasants.Nobles
were people who were born into wealthy families and/or owned large
sums of land. Clergymen, included in the ranks of nobility, were
monks and priests. They prayed to guarantee the spiritual salvation
of the people.Knights were the owners of weapons, and their mission
was to protect the rest of the population in the event of an
attack.Peasants and other workers were in charge of producing food
and necessary objects.Serfs were the lowest of the low. They were
slaves.
9Insert a picture illustrating a custom or tradition
here.KnightsNot all the knights had the same wealth and power.
There were small, modest knights and rich, powerful knights.Knights
were linked through vassalage. This consisted mainly of a ceremony
in which both the lord and the vassal took part.The vassal paid
homage to the lord, that is to say, pledged fidelity; the vassal
was required for life to help and support the lord, especially in
military conflicts. The lord committed himself to protect the
vassal and house him in his dwellings or give him a castle or
territory. This donation was called a fief, the term which
feudalism derives from.
Find out more about knights!10Insert a picture of the head
leader of your country.Peasants & SerfsPeasants were dependant
on a lord (knight or clergyman), who administered justice, charged
fines and collected taxes. The peasants had to pay for the use of
the mill, presses, forges and kilns which were the lords property.
However, all peasants were not alike.Most of the peasants were
serfs, that is to say, they depended on a lord or monastery and
could not leave the lands where they had been born. They worked the
lands of the lord without remuneration, and they had to give the
lord part of their own harvest or a rent. Other peasants were free.
They owned the lands they worked on and did not have to pay for
them.
11Insert a picture of one of the points of interest for your
country.A Medieval Village
Christianity During the Middle AgesIn Europe during the Middle
Ages the only recognized religion was Christianity, in the form of
the Catholic religion. The lives of the Medieval people of the
Middle Ages were dominated by the church. From birth to death,
whether you were a peasant, a serf, a noble a lord or a King - life
was dominated by the church. Various religious institutions became
both important, rich and powerful. The lives of many Medieval
people were dedicated to the Catholic church and religion. These
are all detailed in the following links all of which relate to
Middle Ages Religion.
Thanks for watching!Now click here to take the
quiz!Sources:http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Feudalism_and_Medieval_life.htm
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Medieval_Life/feudalism.htm
http://www.fidnet.com/~weid/feudalism.htm
http://www.mrdowling.com/703-feudalism.html
http://www.historiasiglo20.org/MEC-BC/2-6-1.htm
http://www.ket.org/education/encyclomedia.htm
