The Middle Ages The Middle Ages lasted from about A.D. 500 to They began when the Western Roman Empire collapsed and Germanic tribes conquered Western Europe. The Franks under Charlemagne built an empire that included much of Western Europe. Charlemagne’s three sons later fought for control, and the empire came under attack from the Vikings. 1 of 4 Europe in the Middle Ages Section 1: Feudalism and the Manor System MapMaster: Invasions of the Roman Empire

Feudalism Being under constant threat of attack, Europeans developed feudalism as a system of regional economic and political ties. A king or lord would exchange land for the loyalty of a vassal, who would fight for him and pay him taxes. 2 of 4 Europe in the Middle Ages Section 1: Feudalism and the Manor System The Manor System The manor system organized economic and political life at the local scale. Manors centered on a manor house where a lord lived. He determined the running of the manor, which included all of the workers. A woman might run the manor when her husband or father was away.

Peasants and Serfs Most peasants were serfs who belonged to the manor on which they worked. If a serf saved enough money, however, or escaped, he could become free. Peasants lived in one-room huts and ate simple foods. 3 of 4 Europe in the Middle Ages Section 1: Feudalism and the Manor System Section Reading Support Transparency

Europe in the Middle Ages: Section 1 Section Reading Support Transparency 4 of 4