Charlemagne & the Franks
Who was Charlemagne and what title did the Pope give him?
King
What was the basic structure of feudal society?
Feudal society had kings at the top, followed by nobles, knights, and serfs at the bottom.
What was the purpose of monasteries?
Monasteries served as centers for religion, education, and manuscript copying and writing.
What was the Black Death?
The Black Death was a deadly plague that spread across Europe in the 1300s, killing millions.
What did a windmill do in medieval times?
Windmills were used to grind grain and pump water.
What was the Carolingian Renaissance?
A revival of learning, education, and culture promoted by Charlemagne.
What is a fief, and who gave it to whom?
A fief was a piece of land given by a king or lord to a vassal (usually a noble or knight) in exchange for loyalty and service.
What language did monks use to copy religious texts?
Monks wrote in Latin, which was the language of the Church and learning.
How did the Black Death spread?
It spread through fleas on rats, often carried on trading ships.
What was the purpose of a wheelbarrow?
Wheelbarrows helped peasants move heavy loads more easily while working on farms.
How did Charlemagne help preserve knowledge from the Roman Empire?
By encouraging the copying of ancient Roman texts and building schools.
What were the responsibilities of knights?
Knights provided military protection and served their lords in exchange for land and food.
How did the Church provide education during the Middle Ages?
The Church provided education through monastic schools and preserved ancient texts.
How did the Black Death affect the feudal system?
The labor shortage caused by the Black Death weakened the feudal system, giving peasants more power and wages.
How were gears used in medieval machines?
Gears were used in machines like mills and siege engines to transfer motion and increase mechanical efficiency.
What was the role of the counts in Charlemagne’s empire?
Counts were officials who governed different regions of the empire and reported back to Charlemagne annually. Like a mayor or governor.
Why were serfs considered part of the land?
Serfs were bound to the land and could not leave without permission from the lord; they worked in exchange for protection.
What was daily life like for a monk?
Monks followed a strict daily schedule of prayer, study, and manual labor.
Why did many people believe the plague was punishment from God?
People believed it was a punishment from God due to lack of scientific understanding and strong religious beliefs.
What is a lever, and how did it help people?
A lever is a simple machine used to lift heavy objects more easily by applying force at one end of a rigid bar.
Why did Charlemagne’s empire break apart after his death?
After Charlemagne died, his sons and grandsons fought over control, leading to the Treaty of Verdun and the breakup of the empire.
How did feudalism help maintain order during times of chaos?
Feudalism provided a system of order, where everyone had a defined role and protection during a time of invasions and weak central power.
Two Part Question
Part 1 - Why did the Church have so much power in medieval society?
Part 2 - Do monks still exist today?
Part 1 - The Church had power because it influenced kings, owned land, and was the center of most people’s lives spiritually and socially.
Part 2 - yes! The closest monks live in Irondale, AL very close to downtown Birmingham. They pray, host church services, do community service and help people around them.
What were some long-term effects of the Black Death on Europe?
It caused population decline, labor shortages, social upheaval, and contributed to the eventual decline of feudalism.
What are illuminated manuscripts and who created them?
Illuminated manuscripts were hand-written books decorated with gold and vivid illustrations, created mostly by monks.