Feudal System
Who was at the top of the Feudal Pyramid?
The King
What was a knight trained to do?
Fighting and protecting their lord
What did most peasants do for a living?
Farming
What religion was dominant in medieval Europe?
Christianity
Around what years did the Middle Ages take place?
About 500–1500 CE
What did lords give knights in exchange for loyalty?
Land (often called a fief) and protection
What was the purpose of a castle?
Protection and defense
What is a serf?
A worker who was legally tied to a lord's land
What was a monastery?
A community where monks or nuns lived and worked
What event is traditionally used to mark the beginning of the Middle Ages?
The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE
What was the feudal system based on?
Land, loyalty, and protection
What was a moat used for?
To make it harder for enemies to reach the castle
What was a manor?
A lord's estate, including farmland and villages
Why was the Church important during the Middle Ages?
It influenced religion, education, laws, and everyday life
What was the Black Death?
A deadly disease outbreak, mainly caused by the plague bacterium
Why were knights important to lords?
To fight and protect the lord and his land
Name three defenses found on a medieval castle.
Moats, drawbridges, thick walls, towers
Why did peasants give some of their crops to the lord?
In exchange for protection and the right to live and work on the land
What was the role of monks?
Monks prayed, worked, copied books, and helped their communities
Give two effects of the Black Death.
It caused millions of deaths and led to labor shortages and major social and economic changes.
Explain how the King, lords, knights, and peasants were connected.
The King gave land to lords; lords gave land to knights; knights provided military service; peasants/serfs worked the land and supported the system.
Explain why castles were important during wars.
Castles provided strong defensive positions where people could shelter and soldiers could protect the surrounding area.
Describe two difficulties peasants faced in everyday life.
They worked long hours, had limited freedom, and faced poor harvests, disease, and wars.
Give two ways the Church influenced medieval society.
The Church influenced education and religion and provided charity and community services.
Explain one major way life in medieval Europe was different from life today.