Life on the manor
What was the main economic activity on a medieval manor?
Farming/Agriculture
Who was at the top of the feudal system?
The King
What was the purpose of castles in medieval Europe?
Defense and protection from invaders.
What were the two main types of trials in medieval Europe?
Trial by jury and trial by ordeal.
What was the dominant religion in medieval Europe?
Catholicism
Name three key features of a medieval village
Church, manor house, peasant homes, farmland, mills, blacksmith’s shop (any three)
What was the main purpose of the feudal system?
To provide structure, protection, and land in exchange for loyalty and service.
Name two defensive features of a medieval castle.
Moat, drawbridge, thick walls, towers, arrow slits (any two).
Give an example of trial by ordeal.
Fire, Water, Cross and Combat
What was the name of the head of the Catholic church?
The Pope
What were the two main types of people living on a medieval manor?
Lords and peasants
Name two advantages and two disadvantages of the feudal system
Advantages: Provided protection, created order.
Disadvantages: Peasants had little freedom, power was unequal.
What was a siege in medieval warfare?
A military strategy where attackers surrounded a castle and tried to force surrender.
How did medieval justice change over time?
It moved from physical trials to jury-based decisions, influenced by the Church and legal systems.
How did people in medieval Europe believe they could get to heaven?
By following Church teachings, confessing sins, doing good deeds,
How did peasants pay for the land they farmed?
They paid with labor (working the lord’s land), crops, and sometimes money
What was the main reason feudalism developed in medieval Europe?
To provide protection and order after the fall of the Roman Empire, as kings needed to rely on local lords for defense.
Name two offensive and two defensive strategies/tools used in medieval europe
Offensive: Trebuchet, battering ram etc
Defensive: Murder holes, arrows etc
What was one reason for change in the medieval justice system?
People began questioning harsh punishments, and kings wanted more control over laws. Also the church
How did the Catholic Church influence everyday life in medieval Europe?
It controlled education, provided moral guidance, collected taxes (tithes), and influenced laws and politics.
How did the manor system help provide stability in medieval Europe?
It created a self-sufficient economy where everyone had a role, ensuring food, protection, and order.
Explain the role of a knight in the feudal system.
Knights were granted land by nobles in exchange for military service. They protected the land and followed the code of chivalry.
What were murder holes, and how were they used in castle defense?
Openings in the ceilings of castle gateways where defenders could drop rocks, boiling water, or hot sand on attackers below.
How did trial by combat work?
Two people fought to prove innocence or guilt; the winner was believed to be chosen by God. Nobles often used this method.
How did the Catholic Church influence medieval society?
It controlled education, law, and daily life. It collected taxes (tithes) and provided spiritual guidance.