Download middle ages review #1

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MIDDLE AGES REVIEW #1
DIRECTIONS: Read the following and answer the questions. Write in complete sentences where indicated.
THE FRANKISH EMPIRE
About 500 CE, much of western Europe was left without a strong centralized government due to the breakdown
of the Roman Empire. With little organized resistance, Germanic invaders raided western European cities and
monasteries.
The Germanic people, or Franks who overran the Roman Empire were warriors, farmers, and herders. During the
400-700 CE, the Franks began to create an empire.
During the late 700s, Charlemagne, a Frankish king, built an empire that stretched across modern-day France,
Germany, and part of Italy. He was crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” by the Pope on Christmas Day in 800CE.
After being named emperor, Charlemagne strengthened his rule and attempted to create a united Christian
Europe. Working closely with the Roman Catholic Church, he helped spread Christianity to the far reaches of his
empire.
Charlemagne appointed nobles to rule local areas. He gave them land, expecting them to help with the defense of
the empire. As a way to control these rulers, Charlemagne regularly sent out officials to check on conditions
throughout the empire.
Charlemagne also encouraged learning. He set up a school to ensure the education of government officials. He
also built libraries where scholars copied ancient texts, including the Bible and texts of science and history written
in Latin.
When Charlemagne died in 814, his empire quickly fell apart as his son and grandsons battled for control. By
843CE, his empire was divided and feudalism began to grow.
FEUDALISM
Due to the fall of the Roman Empire, the continued invasions of groups like the Vikings, and the end of
Charlemagne’s Empire, Europe lacked a centralized government to organize a strong military and drive back the
invaders. Many city dwellers moved into the countryside in hopes of greater safety. As a result of the invasions
and a weak central government, a new social and political system known as feudalism developed. Strong local
lords formed a strict code of behavior and loyalties, which became the basis of feudal life.
FEUDAL RESPONSIBILITIES
For example, the king controlled huge tracts of land. He would give his support and a large piece of land, called a
fief, to a powerful lord in return for loyalty and military support. This meant the lord was now a vassal of the
king. The lord would then divide up that land among his supporters, usually less powerful lords, gaining vassals
of his own. The lesser lords would do the same, dividing up the increasingly smaller land holdings to their
knights. Peasants were the majority of the population. They were expected to grow food and tend the land to
support to the feudal lords. They also paid taxes to the Christian Church. Under European feudalism, there was
very little opportunity for to change social classes.
KNIGHTHOOD
Because people in the medieval Europe were often at war, many nobles trained to become knights, or mounted
warriors. They practiced strict discipline and learned how to ride well and handle weapons skillfully. They
fought for the lord above them and honored the Christian Church. In addition, knights were bound by a code of
conduct known as chivalry. This code charged them to be brave, loyal and honest. The code also required
knights to protect the weak, poor, and women.
ROLE OF NOBLEWOMEN
Women played an active role in feudal society. A “lady” was in charge of her husband’s estate while he was
away serving his lord in battle. She was responsible for all household affairs including the raising of children. In
preparation for their adult role, girls received training in household arts such as spinning wool into thread,
weaving cloth, and the management of servants. Women had limited inheritance rights, however, since most
possessions went to the eldest son. Women also had no political power.
MANORIALISM
The basis for the medieval economy was manorialism, an economic system structured around a lord’s manor, or
estate. Manors often included one or more villages and the land surrounding them. Under the manorial system,
each group in society had a place; each also had certain rights and responsibilities.
PEASANTS AND LORDS
Most of the peasants who lived on the estates were serfs. Serfs were not slaves, but they were bound to the land.
They could not leave the estate without the lord’s permission.
Serfs farmed the lord’s land and did other work such as repairing roads and fences. In return for the service
provided by peasants, the lord provided them with the use of several acres of land to farm. The lord was also
supposed to protect them during times of war.
For peasants, life on the manor was difficult and often harsh. Peasant men, women, and children worked long
hours, and few peasants lived past the age of 35. In spite of such hardship, the lives of the peasants were held
together by a common belief in Christianity. Their celebrations—marriages, births, and holidays such as
Christmas and Easter—were centered in the Christian Church.
TRADE
There was very little international trade during the Middle Ages. Because there was no central government, roads
were not maintained. There was also very little protection on the roads from wars and thieves. Therefore manors
needed to be self-sufficient, or produce all of the goods needed to survive. Manors included not only farmland,
but a water source, lumber and many artisans to produce flour, bread, tools, and weapons.
Name:______________________________________________
MIDDLE AGES REVIEW #1
DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions below based on the reading. Write in complete sentences where indicated.
1. When did the Roman Empire fall? _____________________________ (1)
2. What was a problem in Western Europe due to the fall of Rome? Answer in complete sentences.(1)
3. What did Charlemagne do in the late 700s? Answer in complete sentences. (1)
4. What title was Charlemagne given? ___________________________________________________(1)
5. What did Charlemagne try to do after being crowned in 800CE?
6. What did Charlemagne give local ruling nobles? What did he expect from them? Answer in complete sentences. (2)
7. How did Charlemagne control local ruling nobles? Answer in complete sentences. (1)
8. What were two different ways that Charlemagne attempted to increase learning? Answer in complete sentences. (2)
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9. Why did Charlemagne’s empire end? Answer in complete sentences. (1)
10. How did a lack of a centralized government affect Europe? Answer in complete sentences. (2)
11. What system of government developed as a result? _____________________________(1)
12. What was the basis of feudal life? (1)
13. What did a king give to lords? (1)
14. In return, what was the responsibility of the lord?______________________ &_________________________(2)
15. What were two other groups that received land? ______________________ &______________________(2)
16. What social class made up the majority of the population? ______________________________(1)
17. Under European feudalism, what could each class NOT do? (1)
18. What social class trained to become knights? _________________________(1)
19. What were two things knights trained to do? (2)
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20. What were two responsibilities of the knights? (2)
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21. What were three responsibilities of noble women? (3)
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22. What were two ways noblewomen were limited during the Middle Ages? (2)
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23. The economic system of Medieval Europe was called_______________________________(1)
24. What were the responsibilities for each of the following groups. List two for each. (4)
Serfs
Lords
25. What is one fact that proves the lives of serfs was harsh? (1)
26. What was the center of peasant life? __________________________ ______________________(1)
27. Why did a lack of a central government lead to little trade? Give two reasons in complete sentences. (2)
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28. Because there was little trade, give four things the Medieval manor had to include (4)
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