Primary Source Feudalism
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Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies. NAME DATE CLASS Primary Source Activity Medieval Europe Lesson 2 Feudalism and the Rise of Towns Introduction to Excerpts: From Froissart's Chronicles: The Lives of Peasants and Knights Jean Froissart was a medieval scholar, poet, and historian. His Chronicles provide modern readers with first-hand observations of life during the late 1300s. Froissart traveled among the royal courts of Europe. He interviewed important people and observed key events, such as battles, weddings, and funerals. He spent most of his time among the educated nobility rather than among ordinary people. As a result, his writing focuses on events and ideas his noble audiences wanted to read about—battles, chivalry, and nobility—not the workers or the poor. Excerpt 1 “It is customary in England, as well as in several other countries, for the nobility to have great privileges [power] over the [common people], whom they keep in bondage [slavery]; that is to say, they are bound by law and custom to plough the lands of gentlemen, to harvest the grain, to carry it home to the barn, to thrash and winnow it: they are also [forced] to harvest the hay and carry it home.” Excerpt 2 From “Of the Battle of Poitiers Between the Prince of Wales and the French King” “Now, sirs, though we be but a small company as in regard to the puissance [strength] of our enemies, let us not be abashed [ashamed] therefore; for the victory lieth [lies] not in the multitude [great number] of people, but whereas God will send it. If it fortune that the journey be ours, we shall be the most honored people of all the world; and if we die in our right quarrel, [our families] shall revenge us. Therefore, sirs, for God's sake I require you do your devoirs [duties] this day; for if God be pleased . . . , this day ye shall see me a good knight.’ netw rks
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Feudalism
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NAME DATE CLASS
Primary Source ActivityMedieval Europe
Lesson 2 Feudalism and the Rise of Towns
Introduction to Excerpts:
From Froissart's Chronicles: TheLivesofPeasantsandKnightsJeanFroissartwasamedievalscholar,poet,andhistorian.HisChroniclesprovidemodernreaderswithfirst-handobservationsoflifeduringthelate1300s.FroissarttraveledamongtheroyalcourtsofEurope.Heinterviewedimportantpeopleandobservedkeyevents,suchasbattles,weddings,andfunerals.Hespentmostofhistimeamongtheeducatednobilityratherthanamongordinarypeople.Asaresult,hiswritingfocusesoneventsandideashisnobleaudienceswantedtoreadaboutbattles,chivalry,andnobilitynottheworkersorthepoor.
Excerpt 1
ItiscustomaryinEngland,aswellasinseveralothercountries,forthenobilitytohavegreatprivileges[power]overthe[commonpeople],whomtheykeepinbondage[slavery];thatistosay,theyareboundbylawandcustomtoploughthelandsofgentlemen,toharvestthegrain,tocarryithometothebarn,tothrashandwinnowit:theyarealso[forced]toharvestthehayandcarryithome.
Excerpt 2 From Of the Battle of Poitiers Between the Prince of Wales and the French King
Now,sirs,thoughwebebutasmallcompanyasinregardtothepuissance[strength]ofourenemies,letusnotbeabashed[ashamed]therefore;forthevictorylieth[lies]notinthemultitude[greatnumber]ofpeople,butwhereasGodwillsendit.Ifitfortunethatthejourneybeours,weshallbethemosthonoredpeopleofalltheworld;andifwedieinourrightquarrel,[ourfamilies]shallrevengeus.Therefore,sirs,forGod'ssakeIrequireyoudoyourdevoirs[duties]thisday;forifGodbepleased...,thisdayyeshallseemeagoodknight.
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Primary Source Activity Cont.Medieval Europe
Directions Answerthefollowingquestionsabouttheexcerptsyoureadabove.
Analyzing Primary Sources1. Identifying AccordingtoExcerpt1,whatwaslifelikefor
peasants?Giveexamplestosupportyouranswer.
2. Summarizing InExcerpt2,whatdidtheEnglishprincetellhisknightsandsoldiers?
3. Analyzing WhatdoesExcerpt2suggestthatlifewaslikeformedievalknightsandsoldiers?
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Primary Source Activity Cont.
Critical Thinking4. Comparing and Contrasting Howwaslifesimilarand
differentforknightsandpeasants?Supportyouranswerwithdetailsfromtheexcerptsandfromwhatyouhavelearnedfromreadingyourtextbook.
5. Analyzing WhodidFroissartthinkwasmoreimportantknightsorpeasants?Howcanyoutell?
Medieval Europe
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