Society
What was the fuedal system?
Kings, Bishops/Barons, Knights, Peasants/villagers.
Name a type of castle and explain how it worked. (The first type of castle)
The motte and bailey castles. The motte was a mound of earth with a timber tower, or keep, on top. The flat area below was called the bailey, or courtyard.
Where did peasants live?
Wattle and daub houses with thatched roofs.
Who were knights?
Knights were specially trained soldiers on horseback.
What was the Black Death and where did it come from?
The Black Death was a plague that spread across Europe from 1347 to 1351.
It began in Asia and was spread by fleas on black rats.
Who owned all the land?
The King
What replaced wooden castles?
Stone castles.
What was the difference in a serf and a freeman?
Freemen paid rent and could move away whenever they wanted to.
Serfs were not free. They needed the lord’s permission to travel to the nearest town.
What did knights become at age 7?
They became pages. They were fostered by another lord and went to live in his castle.
How did the Black Death show in humans?
Dead bodies had a black/grey appearance from boils and ulcers on the skin.
Where did knights live?
A manor
Name the defensive features of a castle? Explain its use.
A moat, battlements, turrets, drawbridge, portcullis, keep, murder hole (hot oil).
What was the difference in a craftsman and a merchant?
Merchants bought and sold goods.
Craftsmen made and sold goods
What did knights become at age 14?
They became squires. They helped the lord dress for jousts and battles. They practiced with lances, swords and shields.
What was the population decline?
Death tolls vary from 30% to 60%
What was the Middle Ages?
The centuries between the downfall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the modern world.
How would you attack the castle?
Battering ram, siege and scaling ladder, catapult, catapult with hot oil.
How was a craftsman trained?
Apprentices began at 14, the lived with the master’s family and slept in the workshop.
At the end of 7 years, the apprentice made a masterpiece to prove his skill.
He then became a journeyman who travelling around working wherever he could.
What did knights become at age 21?
They were dubbed knights by their lord. As they knelt before their lord, he struck them on the shoulder with the flat of his sword.
Name two shortages due to the plague?
Shortage of tenants.
Shortage of workers.
Who lived in the castle?
King/Lord
What was the job of the lord and lady?
The lord had to fight for the king and help him rule the country.
He had to go to the king’s court when called.
He had to settle disputes and hold court.
The lady of the castle was in charge of the stores, the baking the brewing and the cellar.
She gave directions to the servants, including the pages who came to the castle at around 7 years of age to begin their training as knights.
The lady of the castle would spin flax and wool for thread.
She was also responsible for her daughters’ education.
Why did towns have a curfew at night?
Night-time was dangerous in towns because there was no public lighting.
A watchman was paid to patrol the streets, but no one was allowed out after curfew.
What was the code of chivalry?
To be truthful, generous and loyal
To be courteous to the poor
To protect women and children
Name two outcomes from the Black Plague?
Uprising from peasants.
Antisemitism