🏛 Fall of Rome
When did the Roman Empire collapse?
476 CE
Who were the Franks?
A powerful Germanic group
What is a fief?
Land granted by a lord to a vassal.
What is a manor?
A large estate owned by a lord.
Define “feudalism.”
A system of government based on land and loyalty.
What happened to Europe after Rome fell?
No strong central government—chaos and attacks.
Who crowned Charlemagne emperor?
Pope Leo III.
Name the four social classes.
King, Lords/Nobles, Knights, Peasants/Serfs
Why was it self-sufficient?
Produced everything needed to survive.
Define “serf.”
A peasant who worked and lived on a lord’s land.
What system developed to restore order?
Feudalism
How did Charlemagne promote education?
Built schools and supported learning.
How did feudalism maintain order?
By exchanging land for loyalty and service.
Name one tax serfs paid.
Head money, tallage, marriage fee.
What is “chivalry”?
A knight’s code of honor and respect.
What was one major problem after Rome’s fall?
No strong central government led to chaos and attacks.
Who was Charlemagne?
King of the Franks who expanded the empire and promoted Christianity and education.
What was “homage”?
A vassal’s oath of loyalty to a lord.
What did a typical manor include?
The lord’s castle, farmland, a village, and a church.
Define “vassal.”
A person who pledged loyalty to a lord in exchange for land.
How did the fall of Rome directly lead to the rise of feudalism?
People needed safety and organization, which feudalism provided through loyalty and land exchange.
How did Charlemagne’s rule influence later European leaders?
It created the model for Christian kingship and unity in Europe.
How did feudalism maintain order in Europe?
By defining roles and responsibilities—everyone provided loyalty, protection, or labor in exchange for something.
How did the manor system support feudalism?
It provided the economic foundation. Serfs farmed so lords and knights could serve militarily.
What was the “Norman Conquest”?
Conquest”?The invasion of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, which spread feudalism.