Feudalism
This member of the feudal system holds land on behalf of a lord in exchange for military service.
Vassal
Why is the medieval period known for its farming?
New inventions and practices. Steel is used for plowing and new water/wind tech for power. Crop rotation practices improved. Land is worked by serf system
What is vernacular language?
The language of every day speech in a region such as Spanish, French, English, German
How is the black death spread biologically?
How did it spread so quickly throughout Europe?
With so many people dying, there were fewer workers, so peasants gained power and feudalism declined
Many businesses and farms shut down, and trade slowed
How was the feudal era a reaction to the invasion of nordic vikings?
Vikings invaded Europe for centuries and governments were not centralized enough to protect their people or land from invaders. Instead, feudal lords portioned off land to their vassals who would serve in the military in return. This ensured lands were protected when no central national military existed at the time.
Where did most towns begin during the medieval period?
Craftsmen worked near castles for protection. As business grew, so did the size of towns. Towns often grew into cities close to ports where trade was biggest (Ex: London, Flanders)
How did using vernacular language in literature change the lives of Europeans?
Increase in literacy because people could read in their own language
Who was blamed for the Black death and why?
Many people wrongly blamed Jews for the Black Death, which led to violence and persecution.
People didn’t understand germs or disease, so they looked for scapegoats to explain the tragedy.
Choose one of the following members of the feudal system and explain how they benefitted from feudalism: lord, vassal, serf
Lord: owns land and is main law maker. After renting out fiefs to vassals, the Lord receives military support. The lord may also allow craftsmen to live on his land in order to receive their goods.
Vassal: Receives land and lives on it in a manor or castle. Does not have to work land, allows serfs to farm it and live on it in return. Receives products/goods from serfs.
Serf: Works land and in return lives in peasant village/quarters. Vassal protects in times of danger
What is a guild?
Organization of workers of the same trade. Sets quality standards, protects one another, support one anothers economic interests
Where did some of the first universities form and why?
In major cities like London and Paris, the first universities emerged as a way to educated church members and the wealthy
What was the Great Schism?
After Pope Gregory XI dies, the cardinals can not pick a pope. French vs Italian cardinals fight over new pope for 30 yrs.
The split was a major embarrassment to Church prestige and authority in the late middle ages
Which level of the feudal system did most of society exist in? What was life like for most people?
The majority of people were peasants, many of which were serfs. Vassals allow the serfs to live on the land and in return the serfs work and produce crops/goods. In times of danger, the vassal will protect the serfs with their army.
Serfs lived a simple life in local small towns and villages. Most of their time was spent farming and harvesting crops. Life was very focused on religion and most would stop working on the sabbath day to attend church
Why did guilds become more common in the mid and late middle ages?
European economies were booming. Due to Europe's location as a peninsula, it was ideal for trade. With an increase in trade and an increase in craftsmen/merchants, a need for common practices and protection became necessary
How did Gothic architecture demonstrate a cultural reaction to the crusades and religious emphasis of the time?
Stole its design and inspiration from Muslim mosques seen during the crusades. Crusaders wanted to take these amazing building styles seen during war and adopt them to Christianity to prove their own superiority and glorify god. The cathedrals were large and very ornately decorated, serving as a cultural meeting place and center of the community for all
Explain how the Black death spread around Europe and how it contributed to a decline in the economy
Fleas in China -> Rats -> Trade ships -> Italy -> Europe
Can spread by flea bites or by pneumonia/bodily fluids
Europe was extremely unhygienic with little clean water supply or cleanliness. Rats were everywhere.
Roughly 60% of Europeans died which destroyed the working class and ended feudalism
Explain why feudalism declined in the late middle ages using specific at least 2 specific historical examples
Feudalism met its ultimate end due to the Plague and the Hundred Years War. Both contributed to a population decline and the need for strong centralized monarchies to rule European nations
How did the growth of medieval towns and cities contribute to the growth of the bourgeoisie?
- Created a new middle class called bourgeoise of workers
- Populations grew, more people moved to cities and towns and higher incomes = created a larger working class
Describe the change from Romanesque to Gothic style architecture in the 12 c.
Romanesque: thick, heavy walls with small windows, rounded arches, and barrel vaults, dark and enclosed interior spaces.
Gothic: Thin flying buttresses that support higher, thinner walls with large, stained-glass windows. Pointed arches and ribbed vaults, greater height and more light inside the building. Gargoyles, stained glass windows
What was the Hundred Years War and how did it weaken feudalism
The Hundred Years War was a series of smaller wars between France and England over land and political authority. It lasted almost a century, on and off with no clear winner. To finance and manage the war effectively, both the English and French monarchs needed to centralize their authority. This led to the strengthening of the royal bureaucracy and the diminishing influence of local feudal lords. Lords relied on standing armies (rather than vassal's armies) and nationalism.