Middle Ages Flashcards
(19 cards)
Peasant life: Men
For peasant men life was very hard. The endured gruelling farm work : clearing fields, planting crops building structures, chopping timber and received hardly anything in return. They got some food and shelter and everything else was payed as tithe to the lord.These men got up at the crack of dawn and worked until late at night do they had very few hours of rest.
Peasant life: woman
All women during the Middle Ages had little rights and peasant women had even less. Peasant families did not marry off their children as early as nobility as they were seen as a form of labour however they still married very early. Woman also endured gruelling farm work as having to care of the house. They had to cook and clean, make clothes and take care of the children.
Peasant life: Children
Childhood was not a time to play or learning but all about work. Children were sources of labour on the farm and by the age of ten all peasant children were taught to work and so worked full hours. They were taught to fix roofs and farm. Children married early and did not have any friends. Girls were expected to get married have kids and work their whole life.
The church in the lives of the peasants
All peasants were loyal to the church. They observed all religious holidays and in return believed that after they died and left their cruel world they will live better in the after life. The church was also the only source of education and so those who were lucky were able to work in monasteries.
Hierarchy of feudal society
Monarch- Gave land and other privileges
Tenants in chief(lords)- gave land. Provided knights for the monarch
Sub-tenants(knights)- allocated spare land and protected lords. If needed for fought the king.
Peasants- worked on the land and were bound to their lord. Pay taxes in the form of crops.
Importance of the pope
The pope is the leader of the Catholic Church. After Christianity spread throughout Europe the pope became more powerful and more important as well as the fact that he was a key political ally. He was so important as he was able to claim authority on the St Peters choice to rule the church from Rome.
Kings
The monarch was the leader of the kingdom. They owned all the land in the kingdom. They gave land to lords to care for. They were extremely wealthy and usually owned extravagant castles to showcase their wealth. Peasants were bound to their king for life
Castles
Castles were built to protect the monarch or lords land. They had high walls to keep enemies out and were usually built on large mounds called mottes. If conquered castles were used to control the land. Some even contained moats. The innermost tower was called the keep. Baileys protected the keep. Turrets were also a part of a castle and usually had zig zag barriers on them to rest a bow and arrow. Slits to throw oil down
Cathedrals
The cathedral was the bishops church and was extremely important as the diocese was led from here. The were usually extremely beautiful and were built in the best spot in town. The best towns had the bets cathedrals.
Monasteries
Monks live din small closed communities called monasteries where they lived a life that they thought pleased god and taught others about Christianity. Only males could join and most monasteries contained a church, library, dorms, eating hall, hospice and abbots quarters. The abbot had all the authority in a monastery. Monasteries were also the only form of education.
The manor
The land in which a monarch had all jurisdiction
Crusades
The crusades were as series of wars fought throughout Europe and the Middle East where Christians fought non-Christians
The first crusade was two expeditions to retake the holy city of Jerusalem. The first expedition led by peasants was a failure however the second, led by knights, was a success but the victory was short lived. The Turks fought back and the ally between Europe and the crusader alliance with the Byzantines diminished. The crusades continued for two more centuries.
Barbarians
Barbarians are what the Romans called all those from outside their borders. These people are the people who invaded Rome and overtook them. Near the end of the fall of Rome barbarians were recruited into the army but there loyalty was not to be taken for granted.
Role of the knight
The knights were soldiers who fought on horseback and who’s sole purposes was to pick off foot soldiers. Knights carried extremely heavy armour and were usually extremely wealthy. When not fighting they took care of the kings land. The used many weapons but preferred the lance as it put a distance between the knights and the foot solider.
Influence of Rome
Rome influenced many things in the Middle Ages and even until now. Rome influenced architecture, calendar, Roman numerals, aqueduct and even Christianity. The coliseum was even the same layout as modern stadiums.
Fall of Rome
Rome fell because it was too big to survive, the population was declining and barbarians entered the army whose loyalty could not be taken for granted. It was these barbarians who overthrew the Roman Empire.
Jobs in feudal society
Knight- soldiers who rode on horseback and were usually very wealthy.
Monk- lived in monasteries and lived a life abiding god.
Reeve- administered law in the villages
The franklin- a person who owned land but was not nobility
Black smith- made horse shoes and fashioned many things out of metal.
Arts and literature
Bayeux tapestry- depicted the 1066 battle of Hastings and was a very large artwork. It usually moved around owners and were also used as insulation in the castle.
Canterbury tales written by Chaucer were a series of stories about people eg. The monks tale
Weapons
Battles during the Middle Ages were extremely bloody and many weapons were used. Swords, axes,pikes and maces were used. Knights often carried extremely heavy armour made from steel. Other weapons were catapults, bows and arrows and even boiling oil was thrown over the sides of castles to hurt the enemy above.
