1. SSWH7
The student will analyze European medieval society with regard to culture, politics, society, & economics.

2. DO NOW: Turn to pages 220-221 in your textbook.
Read the section at the bottom about Castles.
Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
How did Castles defend themselves? (2-3 sentences)
How did people attack Castles? (2-3 sentences)

3. MIDDLE AGES:
Period in Europe from
In between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Renaissance
Characterized by de-centralized governments in Europe.
Also referred to as “Medieval” times.

4. FEUDALISM: TERMS TO KNOW:
Organized system of rule in which powerful lords divide their land among lesser lords (vassals)
In exchange, vassals pledge service & loyalty to the greater lord
TERMS TO KNOW:
Fief: piece of land given by a lord to someone of lesser rank in exchange for loyalty
Lord/Noble: man of high ranking; rich
Peasant: person of the lowest rank; poor
Knight: mounted warrior; provided protection
Vassal: person given a fief; lower lord

5. FEUDAL SYSTEM TRIANGLE:

6. Feudal obligations:
Under feudalism, every person had obligations to a superior.
The king promised God he would take care of the country.
The nobles promised to support the king.
The king gave them a fief in return for loyalty and knights.
The nobles were then vassals of the king.

7. KNIGHTS & CHIVARLY: Chivalry: knights adopted code of conduct
Must be brave, loyal, & true to their word
Chivalry included protecting peasants & noblewomen
Women were placed on a pedestal

8. PEASANTS: Had to work several days a week farming lord’s lands
Repaired bridges, roads, fences
Had to ask lord’s permission to marry
Payments due at Christmas & Easter (paid with things: eggs, chickens, grain, etc.)
In return, peasants had right to farm some land for themselves, had protection from lord
Could not leave manor freely, but couldn’t get kicked off
Granted food, housing, land

9. MANORIAL SYSTEM: Manor: lord’s estate Center of feudal system
Included one or more villages & surrounding lands
Peasants lived & worked on manors
Serfs: bound to the land; not slaves but not free
No trade occurred due to nomadic raids
Manors were self-sufficient
Included cottages & huts, water mill, church, & lord’s manor house
Land divided among serfs to work
Pastures for animals

11. The black death: Symptoms: *egg-sized lumps under skin *fever
*vomiting
*black spots caused by internal bleeding
*spitting blood signaled death
Problems:
*crops began to rot
*demand for higher wages
*peasant revolts
*buildings and roads fell to ruin
Also known as “Bubonic Plague”
Killed 1/3 of the population in Europe (more than 25 million people)
Caused by bacteria carried by fleas that lived on rats
Most likely originated in China
Carried to Europe by merchant ships

13.
Pages

14. Charlemagne: King of the Frankish Kingdom in Europe.
Crowned by Pope as Emperor of the Romans; helped to further divide the eastern & western split of Christianity
Conquered several of the other countries
Came the closest to uniting Europe under one government.
After he died, his kingdom split up.

15. Charlemagne’s legacy:
Extended Christian civilization into northern Europe
Blended German, Roman, and Christian traditions
Set up strong, efficient governments
Valued education as a way to unify his expansive kingdom

17. Political impact of Christianity:
Church was central to medieval life
Roman Catholic Church emerges as most powerful force in Europe
Most important achievement was converting people
No political stability, church was the only thing that remained unchanging
Social center; largest public building
The Church had a lot of power.
People believed that they HAD to do things that the Church told them to do to go to Heaven
Without the Church, a person could not go to Heaven.

18. Church role in society:
Papal supremacy: authority over all rulers, including kings & emperors
People believed that in order to avoid hell, they must do the following:
*had to do good works
*believe in Christ
*participate in sacraments
Controlled people by:
*excommunication (condemned to hell for all eternity; banished from Church)
*indulgences (payment to have sins forgiven)
*Lay Investiture (practice in Western Europe where Kings appointed Church officials)
Pope Gregory VII
Banned Lay Investiture in order to have more power.
King Henry IV of Germany
Objected to the Pope taking this away
The Pope Excommunicated him
Compromise
They agreed that the Kings could still appoint Church officials, but the Pope could veto.