Medieval Myths
Although it became a negative term for the Middle Ages, this term originally was used to describe the medieval period because there weren't a lot of records kept during the period.
The Dark Ages
A very decentralized form of government based on rights and obligations.
Feudalism
These buildings were usually built of wood or stone and surrounded by gardens and outbuildings. They were used as protection for the village in times of war.
Manor houses.
King or Queen
Monarch
This social class was the bottom of the social order, but was probably the most important because they grew everyone's food.
Peasants
Sometimes we think that Medieval people drank this instead of water because the water wasn't good to drink.
Ale or Beer
All the land in the kingdom belonged to this person.
The monarch (king or queen)
Besides as protection, manor houses were also used for this other purpose.
The lord's court or as places of celebration.
Considered the most important people in the kingdom after the king or queen. They were the king or queen's most trusted allies.
Nobles
There were this many types of peasants.
2
Contrary to popular belief, Medieval peasants actually ate a lot of food every day. How many calories did Medieval peasants need to eat per day to keep them going as they worked 16 hour days in the fields?
7000-9000
Feudalism provided people what three things?
Protection, stability, and safety.
These were heavily fortified manor houses.
Castles
This group of people during the Medieval period were considered less important than nobles and more important than peasants.
Lesser lords/knights/vassals.
Serfs couldn't leave their lord's land without this.
The lord's permission.
If you were a Medieval man and wanted to hit on a Medieval woman, this is how you would make sure that she was unmarried first.
Check to see if she was wearing a head covering.
During the Medieval period people were bound to each other by promises of _______.
Loyalty
These were the things that were built into castles to provide more protection. Name at least two of them.
Moats, strong walls, and gates.
Peasants that rented land from lords and didn't owe allegiance to the lords.
Freemen
During the Medieval Period, people were born into a social class for life and often had the same job as whom?
Their parents.
This Castle is what the castles at Disney theme parks were based off of and is probably the reason why we think medieval castles are pretty and whimsical.
Neuschwanstein Castle
There were two types of peasants. One was called serfs. What was the other kind of peasants called?
Freemen.
This is the reason there were a lot of wars that happened during the Middle Ages.
There was no strong central government.
Peasants that couldn't leave the lord's land without permission and farmed the lord's land in exchange for a small plot of their own.
Serfs
Medieval peasants worked 16 hour days for most of the year. However, during this time of year, they worked less and had more time off.
Winter