Medieval Era Society and Feudal System

Medieval Era

• Society was organized in a strict system called the Feudal Hierarchy, ranking people by social class.
• Social mobility was nonexistent; people were born into a specific level.
• Society was run by the church and wealthy Lords/Nobles.
• Serfs' primary duty was obedience to their Lord.
• Lower classes (peasants, commoners, serfs) lacked benefits like education and had to give much of their produce to their Lord.
• The higher social levels dictated tasks for lower levels.
• Loyalty was owed to the social level above.
• Towns offered some freedom where peasants worked in trades (metalwork, bricklaying, baking, blacksmithing).
• Guilds (cooperative organizations) controlled prices, quality standards, and apprenticeship.
• Guilds functioned similarly to modern unions.
• The Church held immense power; all citizens paid tithes (taxes) to the church, believing it would help them get into heaven.

The Feudal System Weakening

• Growth in towns offered alternative opportunities for peasants.
• The Black Death reduced the workforce, leading to higher wages and opportunities for advancement.
• Increased use of gunpowder made knights less essential; many transitioned to merchants or bankers.
• The Black Death and peasant revolts destroyed the Feudal system.
• People questioned existing religious structures during the Black Death.

Renaissance Era

• People revisited ancient Greek and Roman texts, influencing social structure & behavior ideals.
• Humanism emphasized human potential and reason.
• Four key humanist beliefs:
  • Human reasoning leads to truth.
  • Curiosity and questioning are essential.
  • Individuals should seek learning and personal growth.
  • Individuals should develop physically and intellectually.
• Civic Humanism: public service is a responsibility of every citizen.

Renaissance Art and Science

• Renaissance Art embraced natural themes, light, shadows, and textures with detailed human figures.
• Artists began signing and establishing their reputations.
• Sciences like astronomy, mathematics, and medicine flourished, with contributions to the scientific method.
• The telescope and other inventions led to changes in beliefs and knowledge of the physical world.
• The development of the printing press spread knowledge and fostered literacy, influencing the Protestant Reformation.

Age of Exploration

• Humanist emphasis on human potential led to exploration.
• Technological advances (navigation) enabled exploration.
• Religious conversion (Christianity) motivated voyages.
• Explorers sought gold, trade, and knowledge.
• Circumnavigation proved the Earth is round.
• Exploration motivations: protection of trade routes, reduced prices of foreign goods in Europe, and conversion of foreign peoples to Christianity.
• Exploration was aided by navigational tools.
• The European worldview during the Age of Exploration saw forced labor as acceptable.
• Europeans gained knowledge of new ideas and foreign products.

This quiz explores the structure of society during the Medieval Era, focusing on the Feudal Hierarchy and the roles of different social classes. It examines the lack of social mobility, the power of the Church, and the emergence of towns and guilds. Test your understanding of this complex historical period.