The Middle Ages by Sharon Mendez- Student Edition

8/10/2019 The Middle Ages by Sharon Mendez- Student Edition

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The MiddleAges(449-1485)

BY: SHARON MENDEZ RODRIGUEZ


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Timeline1171- Henry II invades Ireland, beginning nearly eight hundred years ofBritish Domination

1215- English barons force King John to sign the Magna Carta1250- First Commoners are allowed in the British Parliament

1348- Black Death Strikes England

1380- Entire Bible is translated into English for the first time, by followersof John Wycliffe

1381- Peasants Revolt takes place in England

1387- Chaucer begins The Canterbury Tales

1455 to 1485- War of the Roses is fought between the Houses of Yorkand Lancaster

1485- First Tudor King, Henry VII is crowned


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Feudal System

The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100) wascalled feudalism.

Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of themanor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm.

In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits. Yetthey were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to thelord.Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostereda sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.


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Agriculture: The Three Field System

The method of crop rotation, or the three field system, wasdeveloped during the middle ages.

Originally half the land would be planted and the other half wouldbe fallow (unplanted)

Under the new system the land was divided into three fields. Twowere planted and one would be left fallow. Crops which useddifferent nutrients would be planted in the two fields and wouldrotate to let the soil rest.


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The Manorial SystemA Manor was a self-sufficient agricultural estate run by a

lord and worked by peasants and serfs.


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Knights and Lords

Nobles needed trained soldiers to defend castles

Knights most important, highly skilled soldiers

Mounted knights in heavy armor best defenders

Being a knight expensive; had to maintain weapons, armor, horses

Knights demanded payment for services


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Knights Education: Stage 1

The education of a young noblebegan early (age 7).

He would be sent off to the castleof another lord. He waited on hishosts and learned courtlymanners. He played chess andlearned war strategies.

To develop fighting skills, he wouldpractice sword fighting.


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At around the age of 14, the boywould become a squire.

A squire would act as a servant toa knight.

The squire took care of the knightsarmor, weapons, and warhorse.

The squire would also escort theknight to battles.


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Knights were bound by a strictcode of conduct called chivalry.

According to this code, knightswere expected to be brave, loyal,true to their word and protectiveof women and those weaker thanthem.


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Feudal Obligations


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Fealty to King

Almost everyone in system served more than one lordTheoretically, everyone supposed to be loyal to the king

In practice, not everyone loyal

Some powerful nobles as strong as kings they were supposed toserve, ignored duties as vassals

Feudal rules specific to time, place; could change over time;Englands rules not same as Frances rules


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Womens Role in the Manor

Whether they were nobles orpeasants, women held a difficultposition in society.

They were largely confined tohousehold tasks such as cooking,baking bread, sewing, weaving,and spinning.

However, they also hunted forfood and fought in battles,learning to use weapons todefend their homes and castles.


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Other Occupations

Some medieval women held other occupations. There were womenblacksmiths, merchants, and apothecaries.

Others were midwives, worked in the fields, or were engaged increative endeavors such as writing, playing musical instruments,dancing, and painting.Some women were known as witches, capable of sorcery andhealing. Others became nuns and devoted their lives to God andspiritual matters.


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Catholic Church


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The Catholic Church

The Catholic Church was the only church in Europe during theMiddle Ages, and it had its own laws and large income.

Church leaders such as bishops and archbishops sat on the king'scouncil and played leading roles in government.


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Pope Gregory VII

Pope Gregory VII,

though unpopular,initiated many reformsfor the church.

These reforms

became known asthe Gregorianreforms.


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Papal States and Simony

The Papal States were the territories surrounding Rome which werecontrolled by the Pope and the Church.

As the Middle Ages went on the church became more involved inpolitical affairs. The feudal government of the time complicatedmatters. Lords appointed these bishops and other church officialsas their vassals, and they had to be loyal to their lords, bishops andabbots became more worldly and neglected their spiritual duties.

A practice known as simony developed where lords would sellchurch offices. This became an important source of income forlords and nobles.


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Lay Investiture

When an Abbot or Bishop was appointed to the churchthey were given symbols of their new office.

These objects were a ring and a staff, they symbolizedthe spiritual authority which was being granted, orinvested, by the church. The ring represented marriage

to the church and the staff was symbolic of the duty tobe a good shepherd to the people.


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The Inquisition

The Church appointed a special court, usually headed by theDominicans, to find and try heretics.

If an accused heretic confessed, he or she was forced to performpublic penance.

Beginning in 1252, those that did not confess voluntarily weretortured until they did confess.

Many did not confess but were still considered guilty and turned to

the state for execution.If a heretic relapsed, they were also subject to execution.

Christians of this time believed that the only path to salvation wasthrough the Church, heresy was a crime against God and humanity,the church believed it was doing this to save peoples souls.


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Bishops

Bishops, who were often wealthy and came from noble families,ruled over groups of parishes called dioceses.

Many times, they were part of the feudal system and in exchangefor a fief, peasants had to provide homage and military aid to aleige lord.


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The Village Church

The Village church was the center of all religiousand most social activities.

Village priests would teach peasants the basicbeliefs of Christianity, although many localpriests had very little education themselves.

On festival days the village churchyard was usedfor dancing and drinking, much to the dismay ofthe priest.


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Parish Priests

Parish priests came from humble backgroundsand often had little education.

The village priest tended to the sick and indigentand, if he was able, taught Latin and the Bible tothe youth of the village


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Monks

Monks were required to perform manual laborand were forbidden to own property, leave themonastery, or become entangled in theconcerns of society.

Daily tasks were often carried out in silence.


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Nuns

Monks and their femalecounterparts, nuns, wholived in convents,provided for the less-fortunate members of

the community.Monasteries andnunneries were safehavens for pilgrims andother travelers.

The Middle Ages by Sharon Mendez- Student Edition

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