Early Middle Ages Flashcards
What are some causes of the fall of Rome ?
1) Germanic invaders looking for land since the population of Rome is decreasing (diseases, famine) 2) The Empire was too big
3) The Empire was divided in two and the West part was weaker than the East part
4) Corruption in the army
5) The values of the Christianity didn’t fit with the motives of the crusades.
What are the effects of the Germanic invasions ?
1) Created a mix of the two cultures (Roman + German)
2) There was a lot of little kingdoms (no political unity)
3) Decay in the economy (less trade)
What are the causes/consequences of the invasion by the Vikings ?
1) They were looking for land since they were overpopulated
2) They wanted to become wealthier
3) They were successful to invade Rome since there was no central power.
4) Main effect: created Feudalism
What is Feudalism ?
Political contract: Lords gave land and protection to vassals. Vassals used the land and in return, they would fight for the Lord. (People would work on the land for the vassals)
What are the three orders (3 groups of society) of Feudalism and what decides in which category people belonged?
- Those who pray
- Those who work
- Those who fight
You were in a specific category depending on your job or your occupation.
For what did the vassals used the land ?
Food and a source of income
Who worked the land of the vassals?
Peasants would work the land for the vassals.
What was Feudalism for? What did it give to the Lord?
It assured loyalty, faithfulness and honor
What were serfs?
Peasant farmers that were unfree. They weren’t slave but they could not leave the land where they worked.
What was the institution that the peasants were tied to? What did it do?
Manorialism –> peasants would work the land, pay taxes, etc. to have protection from the Lord
Who had political power during the Early Middle Ages?
Lords and vassals
Why were there weak kings?
They didn’t have absolute power since they had to share with lords (KINGS were just MORE IMPORTANT lords).
