Middle Ages Basics
When did the Middle Ages take place?
Between the 5th and 15th centuries
Who was at the top of the feudal system?
The King
Who was the leader of the Catholic Church?
The Pope
What tool helped farmers turn heavy soil?
The heavy plow
What percentage of Europeans died from the Black Death?
Around 50%
(30%-60%)
What social system organized society during the Middle Ages?
Feudalism
Who gave land to knights in exchange for service?
Lords
What tax did people pay to the Church?
BONUS +200 if you can tell me how much the Tithe was
Tithes (one-tenth of income)
What machine used wind to grind grain?
The windmill
What animal helped spread the disease?
Rats (carried fleas)
What group became the most powerful religious force in Europe?
The Catholic Church
What was a serf?
A peasant tied to the land with limited freedom
What did monks do to help keep knowledge alive?
Copied books by hand
What invention helped keep accurate time?
The mechanical clock
Why did peasants gain power after the Black Death?
There were fewer workers
What style of architecture used pointed arches and tall buildings?
Gothic architecture
What was the manor system based on?
A self-sufficient community run by a lord
Why was the Church so powerful?
It owned land and united people
What invention in 1440 helped spread knowledge faster?
The printing press
Who was the main leader of the Peasants' Revolt?
Wat Tyler
What language did people start writing in instead of Latin?
Their own local languages
Name one building commonly found on a manor.
(Multiple responses)
Manor house, church, barn, mill
What type of school did the Church run for learning?
Cathedral schools or universities
What invention helped riders stay balanced on horses?
The stirrup
What was one major cause of the Peasants' Revolt?
The poll tax or unfair treatment of peasants