Chapter 1: The Collapse of the Middle Ages Flashcards
- Power Dynamics: The nobility and clergy were dominant classes, controlling land, military power, and claiming religious authority. Nobles, as a warrior class, maintained control using knights and force, often at the expense of peasant security. While nobles claimed divine right, their authority was enforced through military dominance rather than genuine protection. Life of the Common People: Peasants led lives centered on subsistence farming with limited autonomy under the feudal system. - Th
What was feudalism?
A medieval European social system where land was held by nobles and worked by peasants, creating a hierarchy of power.
What were some main causes of the collapse of the medieval world?
Population growth, economic pressures, the Black Death, and social tensions all contributed to the decline of feudalism.
How did the Black Death influence medieval society?
It decimated populations, weakened feudal structures, and led to increased peasant revolts and social mobility.
Define “manorialism.”
An economic and social system where peasants worked land owned by lords, central to feudalism.
What role did the Catholic Church play in medieval Europe?
The Church was a powerful religious and political institution that controlled social norms and influenced rulers.
What was the significance of peasant revolts?
They challenged feudal power and highlighted demands for rights and social change, setting the stage for future revolutions.
How did the decline of feudalism contribute to the rise of capitalism?
As feudal systems weakened, trade and the merchant class grew, leading to early capitalist structures and the Renaissance.
Who were the two dominant classes in medieval European society according to the text?
Nobles and church officials
How did the nobility maintain their power in medieval Europe?
Through a “military monopoly of force” with knights and access to the best lands.
What was the nobility’s “military monopoly of force”?
Exclusive control over armed power, with well-equipped and trained knights enforcing their dominance.
How did knights differ from peasants in terms of weaponry and resources?
Knights had armor, swords, lances, and war horses, while peasants only had basic weapons like clubs or knives.
Why was it difficult for peasants to resist knights?
Knights were professional soldiers with superior armor and weapons, whereas peasants were poorly equipped and untrained.
What did nobles claim as the reason for their power, besides military strength?
Nobles claimed God’s blessing or divine right to justify their authority.
How did nobles provide “protection” to peasants?
Nobles claimed to protect peasants from invasion but also used this “protection” to control and keep them submissive.
How were knights both protectors and oppressors of peasants?
Knights were supposed to protect peasants but often acted as a threat themselves, enforcing control rather than genuine protection.
