Questions and Answers
What are the years referred to as the Middle Ages?
The years between ancient and modern times.
What does the term 'Medieval' refer to?
Referring to the Middle Ages.
What is feudalism?
A system in which land was owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in return for their loyalty.
What is a manor?
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Who is a serf?
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What is the role of a knight?
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Who were the higher and lower social classes compared to a knight?
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What held society together during the feudal system?
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What three things did the Roman Empire spread?
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What three broad things contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?
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How did the Northern Germanic tribes impact the Roman Empire?
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Who invaded the former Roman Empire, now known as the Germanic tribes, and what was the name of their king?
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How did Charlemagne expand his empire?
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What happened after Charlemagne died?
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From where did the Vikings come, and what were they known for?
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How long did the Viking attacks last?
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Name four characteristics of the Vikings.
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Who had power in Western Europe during feudalism?
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Who gave a fief, and what is a fief?
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How must a lord behave with his vassal?
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How must a vassal behave with his lord?
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What is a manor house?
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Who is the lord of a manor?
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Why did manors have to be self-sufficient?
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What is the relationship between a manor and its lord?
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Explain the role of noble women in feudal society.
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Were serfs slaves?
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Explain the job of a peasant.
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Explain the living conditions of a peasant.
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What is the difference between feudalism and manorialism?
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Study Notes
Middle Ages and Terms
- The Middle Ages span the years between ancient and modern times.
- Medieval refers specifically to this period, characterized by unique cultural and societal structures.
Feudalism
- A social system where land is owned by kings or lords but held by vassals in exchange for loyalty.
- Vassals are required to provide military service to their lords.
Manor System
- A manor is a large estate including farms and a village, governed by a lord.
- Manors operated independently and needed to be self-sufficient for food and essential goods.
Serfs
- Serfs were farm workers bound to a manor, unable to leave or marry without the lord's permission.
- They were not slaves; they could earn money and potentially buy their freedom and land.
Knights
- Knights are soldiers who protect the social classes above and below them.
- Payment for a knight's service comes in the form of land and honor, marked by a ceremony where they receive weapons and symbols of knighthood.
Social Hierarchy
- The societal structure consists of kings at the top, followed by nobles, lords, knights, vassals, and peasants/serfs at the bottom.
Fall of the Roman Empire
- Contributing factors included economic troubles, social unrest, and invasions from Northern Germanic tribes.
- The Germanic tribes changed the landscape of Europe, disrupting trade and preserving their distinct languages and cultures.
Charlemagne
- Expanded his empire by conquering weaker kingdoms amid feudal strife.
- Known for establishing schools, spreading Christianity, improving the economy, and maintaining unity in Western Europe for nearly 50 years.
- Upon his death, his empire weakened due to divisions among his sons and external attacks from Vikings.
Vikings
- Originated from present-day Denmark, Sweden, and Norway; skilled warriors and sailors responsible for 300 years of raids in Europe.
- Their attacks included burning, looting, and reestablishing trade routes, but they did not unify the former Roman territories.
Feudalism Duration and Power Dynamics
- Feudalism lasted approximately 100 years, held by those with land, mainly nobles and barons.
- Fiefs, portions of land, were granted by lords to vassals in return for loyalty and military support.
Lords and Vassals
- Lords must honor and protect their vassals, seeking their counsel on major decisions.
- Vassals owe military service, attendance at court, and taxes (often in crops) to their lords.
Noble Women
- Noble women received training to manage households and had responsibilities in the absence of their husbands, effectively acting as 'substitute lords'.
Peasants' Life
- Peasants faced harsh living conditions, working long hours in one-room huts lacking fundamental amenities.
- They farmed the lord’s fields and were limited to small personal plots, surrendering a portion of their harvest to the lord.
Economic Systems
- Feudalism refers to the overarching political and economic structure, while Manorialism focuses on local economies and societal organization within the manors.
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Test your knowledge of feudalism and the manor system with these flashcards. Learn essential terms and concepts related to the Middle Ages, including definitions and historical context. Perfect for history students seeking a clearer understanding of this period.