Feudalism Flashcards
What was the effect of Clovis’s conversion to Christianity
-most of his subjects became Christians as well
Who was Charlemagne? Where did he rule? What changes did he bring about?
- he was an ambitious new ruler who took over the Frankish Kingdom
- he ruled in western Europe
- he built a huge European empire
- established new laws to help keep order
- strengthened the Church
- promoted the education of priests
- organized Church authority
- made alliances with popes
Who took over after the death of Charlemagne? What was the result under the new ruler?
- Charlemagne’s son, Louis, took over
- when Louis died his 3 sons fought each other for control
- they signed a treaty that divided the empire into 3 parts
- it weakened the Frankish Kingdom
What led to the rise of feudalism?
- decline of Frankish rule led to the disorder across Europe
- invaders took advantage of this disorder
- they terrorized coastal villages
- Europe became a place of constant conflict and warfare
- during violence people looked for protection, this led to the creation of feudalism
Who fought on behalf of the lords?
-vassals
What did the vassals and serfs receive in exchange for their service?
- vassals were allowed to use pieces of the land
- vassals and serfs looked to the lords protection
What changes occurred in Europe after the fall of Rome?
- decline in the size and power of government
- reduction in long-distance trade
- growth of numerous Germanic kingdoms
- disappearance of cities and rise of rural villages and farms
- decline in learning and devotion to Greek and Roman culture
Identify & define the members or layers of feudal society.
- king - sat atop feudal society & ruled over large land
- church & officials - owned land & held much power &wealth
- knights - provided military service to nobles in return for land
- peasants - known as serfs worked the land for nobles & other hard labor
what does it mean to say that the serfs were “bound to the soil”
They were considered part of thew property & remained on the land if a new lord acquired it
what were the parts of the manor?
- center - house where the lord & his family lived
- surrounding the manor - Lord’s estate which consisted of farmland & villages where the peasants lived
Explain the role of the manor system in the economic structure of the middle ages
- serfs farmed the land which formed the economic basis of the manor system
- land on the manor supplied residents with most of the things they needed
- most activity took place on the manor
Describe what a typical town during the middle ages would be like
- dirty, cramped & busy
- in the center there was a market square & cathedral
- streets were narrow, filthy & usually not paved
- most houses were made out of wood
