The Age of Chivalry Chapter 13 Section 3

Key Terms Chivalry Tournament Troubadour

Knights: Warriors on Horseback Mounted soldiers 700’s Charles Martel observe Muslim cavalry Organized Frankish horseman Technology of warfare Leather saddles Stirrups

Knights: Warriors on Horseback Stirrups helped to brace the rider Knights at full tilt could knock over soldiers and riders on horseback Knights and warhorses had key military role

Warriors Role in Feudal Society 11th century lords raised armies Knights awarded with fiefs Wealth of fief allowed them to devote life to war Could buy costly weapons

Warriors Role in Society Knights obligation was to serve in battle 40 days a year for combat Often trained for war Wrestling and hunting helped them to get stronger

Knighthood and the Code of Chivalry Chivalry- complex set of ideas Knight fight bravely Devote himself to the earthly feudal lord His heavenly lord His lady Most knights did not meet these standards

A Knight’s Training Age 7 sent to another lord Page sharpened his fighting skills Age 14 becomes a squire Is a servant to the knight Age 21 full fledged night After being dubbbed a knight travels for 1 or 2 years

A Knights Training Tournaments- combine recreation and skill Were fierce and bloody Winners could demand large ransoms from defeated knight

Brutal Reality of Warfare 1100’s massive walls and guard towers on castles Dominated country side of western Europe Lords, lady, knight lived in the castle Attacking armies used many weapons

Brutal Reality of Warfare Defenders poured Boiling water Boiling oil Molten lead Used archers Arrows could pierce armor

Literature of Chivalry Idealized castles Songs and poems of knights undying love Glorified knighthood and battles

Epic Poetry Song of Roland-one of the earliest medieval epics Praises French soldiers who perished under Charlemagne’s rule A few brave knights are led by Roland Overwhelmed by the Muslims

Love Poems and Songs Conflicts between lady and duty to his lord Troubadours-traveling poet-musicians Compose short verses of songs about joy Might sing about love’s dissapointments

Love Poems and Songs Eleanor Aquitaine Queen of England Mother of two kings Richard the Lion Hearted John

Women’s Role in Feudal Society Women were powerless Same as most men Women thought to be inferior to men (Church’s view) Played important role in peasant and noble families

Noblewomen Could inherit an estate Upon her lord’s request send knights into battle Acted a military commander of the castle Hurled rocks and shot arrows at attackers Most activities are at home or the convent Most fiefs went to sons

Peasant Women Lower class women’s lives unchanged for centuries Endless labor Bore children Took care of the family Poor and powerless Economic contributions were essential for the family