The Late Middle Ages Social Studies 8

The Late Middle Ages: Occurred from 1300 to 1500 (right after the HMA and before the Renaissance) Started with plagues and famines in 1300: This severely halted European growth

The Late Middle Ages Negatives: Numerous plagues and diseases Peasants revolted only to be brutally suppressed The Hundred Years War ruined Northern France Positives: A large development of trade in Europe Wages for farmers improved People could become trained in a trade to make money and not have to be serfs Cities grew and beautiful buildings such as Cathedrals were built

Review: Knighthood All knights were supposed to have honour and chivalry: – What is honour? – Why is it important? – Would you say honour is found in today’s society? A Knight’s Tale: Knighting

Knights What comes to mind when you think of “knights”? What do they wear? What is their job? Where do they fit into the social hierarchy? Are they well respected?

A Knight’s Education: Page sent at 8 years old to a neighbouring castle where he is trained to be a page by another knight Usually the son of a knight or a member of the aristocracy Learns how to use a sword and hunt Lady of the house teaches him about literature, courtesy and music Plays games of strategy such as chess Learns the code of chivalry

Squire At the age of 14 or 15 a boy became a squire in service to a knight He dressed the knight in the morning Cleaned the knight’s armour Learns about weapons, warfare, combat training and hunting Accompanies knights to tournaments Helps in battle, takes prisoners. Some squires stayed squires for life- they could not afford to become a knight

Knight Can become a knight at the age of 21, about 13 years of training Serves lord in war Duty to protect women and strengthen church But were not always nice guys- often beat those in the lower class Oversees land as vassal Takes part in tournaments: (jousting)

Knight continued Knights swear on a code of Honour ( Chivalric Code)- based on personal honour Knight’s entertainment of jousting and hunting were ways to practice The more successful a knight was, the more they were valued in society and in social class

Knight’s Armour and Combat Knights and other noble families had their own coat of arms (a.k.a. family crests) Knights often displayed these coats of arms on their shields or jupons This also helped to identify if killed in battle Could take an hour to put on all armour ‘chain’ mail worn underneath armour Leg and foot coverings Breast plate and jupon

Reading Activity Now you will read pages 135 to 139 in your book Once you are done reading you will work to complete Question #1 that follows: Choose one of the characters in the story to write a poem about the battle from his point of view. OR draw a series of pictures to show what happened to that character in the battle. Or imagine you are the mother, father, of one of the slain soldiers and write a poem that describes the events of your loved one’s death. Compare your poem once done to those who took a different point of view.