First, take this worksheet out and use the following slides to complete the back side.

Monarchs Wore fancy clothes to show off how much money he had. Believed in the “divine right of kings,” which meant that God gave them the right to rule. Had to rely on their vassals, to provide enough knights and soldiers. Was answerable to the Pope. The Pope had the right to intervene and impose sanctions on an unjust King. Wore fancy clothes to show off how much money he had.

Lords & Ladies Like monarchs, lords and ladies were members of the nobility, the highest-ranking class in medieval society. Most of them lived on manors. Some lords had one manor, while others had several. Those who had more than one manor usually lived in one for a few months and then traveled with their families to another. Lords were responsible for managing and defending his land and the people who worked it. The lord appointed officials to make sure villagers carried out their duties, which included farming the lord’s land and paying rent in the form of crops, meat, and other foods. They also acted as judges and punished those who broke the law. Noblewomen were responsible for raising and training their children and sometimes the children of other noble families. They were also responsible for overseeing their large households. 

Manor homes and castles could be gloomy and cold Manor homes and castles could be gloomy and cold. There was little or no privacy. Fleas and lice infected all medieval buildings. People generally bathed only once a week, if that. Clothes were not washed daily either. Diseases affected both the rich as well as the poor.

Knights were the mounted soldiers of the medieval world. In general, knights had to have a good deal of wealth, since a full suit of armor and a horse cost a small fortune. Knights were usually vassals (a person granted the use of land) of more powerful lords. A boy started training for knighthood by becoming a page, where he learned skills, such as horseback riding and singing. After seven years, he became a squire and learned how to fight as a warrior. A deserving squire was made a knight in his early 20s at a special ceremony. Knights were expected to be loyal to their Church and lord, to be fair, and to protect the helpless.

Clergy Clergy were the religious people of the Middle Ages Pope, bishops, priests, monks, and nuns Bishops were wealthy Priests were heads of churches Monks were scholarly Nuns were very holy women who lived in a convent The Roman Catholic Church was the single largest unifying organization in medieval Europe Clergy

Peasants/Serfs Responsibilities Difficulties/Challenges Most peasants worked at raising crops and tending livestock. Some worked as carpenters, shoemakers, and smiths. Peasants paid taxes to lords. Difficulties/Challenges The daily lives of peasants revolved around work. Children did not go to school or have tutors, so few knew how to read. Lived in small homes with few possessions. Serfs were bound to the manor and couldn’t leave without permission.

Roles in Medieval Europe Directions: Go back to Mr. Saska’s site and go on the Unit 3 page. Click “Roles in Medieval Europe Films”. 2. Choose one role from the list and click on it. You will then be taken to Safari Montage. Choose “Central Bucks School District” from the drop down menu first, then use your CB username and password to log in. 3. If the movie doesn’t automatically show up, simply search the title of the movie you chose by typing it in the search bar (Example: if you chose the knight, type “knight” in the search bar. ) 4. Before beginning the film, have out a piece of lined paper. Back on Mr. Saska’s Unit 3 page, choose the role you are focusing on from the list under “Roles in Medieval Europe Viewing Guides”. These are the questions you need to answer on your lined piece of paper while you watch the film. Roles in Medieval Europe