Feudalism Flashcards
Main Idea-Feudalism
Europeans developed feudalism, a political and military system of protective alliances and relationships
Relevance-Feudalism
The rights and duties of feudal relationships helped shape today’s forms of representative government
What did the Barbarians do after the fall of Rome?
Carved out their own kingdoms in Europe, in the former Roman Empire
What threatened Europe’s stability after the fall of Rome?
Multiple invasions, but the most threatening were the Muslim and Viking
What were the five pillars of Islam?
Belief, Worship, Fasting, Almsgiving, and Pilgrimage
Muhammed
tradesman born into a pagan world who interacted with Jews and Christians and eventually became Islam’s founder
Pillar I of Islam-Belief
There is only one God and Muhammed is the messenger
Pillar II of Islam-Worship
Pray 5x a day
Pillar III of Islam-Fasting
Fast often, especially during Ramadan
Pillar IV of Islam-Almsgiving
Give to poor
Pillar V of Islam-Pilgrimage
Go to Mecca once in life
Why were the Middle Ages called the Dark Ages? (What were the main events?)
War (crusades,) Plague (Black Death,) Famine, Poverty, Lack of cultural achievements or progress, rampant superstition, dominance of the Church, Persecutions, Anti-semitism
How long after the Barbarian establishment of their kingdoms did the Muslims and Vikings invade?
7 centuries.
What was the psychological impact of the fall of Rome?
Mass depression and fear
How was the psychological state of Rome symbolized by the state of the Colosseum during the Dark Ages?
It had deteriorated and was now a landfill and haven for animals, as well as a place for the poor to sleep.
Jihad (regular definition and according to terrorists.)
Struggles. Terrorists-holy war.
Infidel
non believer (Muslim)
What was the major Muslim goal in the 8th century?
To conquer the world
What was the Muslim belief on infidels?
If they kill themselves while killing infidels they’ll go straight to heaven.
Who was Hasan al Banna?
Founder of Muslim brotherhood
Quote on Jihad-Hasan al Banna
“Jihad is an obligation from Allah on every Muslim and cannot be ignored nor evaded. Allah has ascribed great importance to jihad and has made the reward of the martyrs and the fighters in His way a splendid one….Their pure blood is a symbol of victory in this world and the mark of success and felicity in the world to come.”
Who were the Franks?
A Germanic tribe who had invaded the empire
Who was the military commander of the Franks?
Charles Martel
Why couldn’t the Muslims and Franks compromise when the Muslims invaded?
The Muslim ideology was all or nothing
How did the Frank and Muslim conflict end up?
Them fighting the Muslims, who are undefeated
Significance of Charles Martel
He was savior of Christianity in Europe
What was the Battle of Tours?
A conflict between the invading Moors (Muslims) and Franks
What is the major goal of the invading Moors?
Expand empire and spread the faith of Muhammed
What did the Moors believe was their “religious mission?”
To rule over the world and bring God justice and institute God’s order
How large was the Muslim army?
50,000 men
Where did Martel position his army at Tours?
On a wooded ridge hill
How did Martel earn the nickname, “The Hammer,”
He won the battle and save Christianity
What was the Viking motivation to invade?
Land and money/treasure
What were Vikings good at?
robbing churches and monastaries so they ahd many precious objects
What are they going to do w the Vikings?
Build castles for defense
Feudalism
The organized social system in medieval Europe in which nobility held lands from the king in exchange for military service
How does feudalism work?
King gives land to Lord, who divides that among lesser lords, who act as knights and pledge to defend Lord and his land, and the peasants live on lord’s land and work it in return for food, housing, and protection.
Practical difference between Lord and lord
How much $ they make
What is the feudal system based on?
Mutual obligation
Stages of becoming a knight
Page, squire, and knight
Page
Learning the basics at age 7
Squire
Hands on training at age 16
Knight
Dubbed/initiated at age 20
What did knights need?
Chivalry and knowledge of how to fight
What was encouraged of the knights?
Have a chosen women, steel (strong + brave) but silk (kind)
Purpose of Tournaments
knights to show off skills, keep in shape and their skills sharp
Major events in tournaments
Sword fighting (with wooden swords, no harm done,) archery, (legend says split arrows,) and jousting (with a lance.)
How could a knight win a tournament?
Getting most amount of points
Nobles=
Lords
Name for peasants
serfs
How did serfs live?
In straw/dung walls, w/o security, w/ animals, hearth at center (w hole in ceiling,) foodon ceiling (simple furniture,) lofts with flea infested mats, pests in house
In feudalism, what happened if the man of the house died?
Widow and children lived on own or became slaves
In feudalism, what happened if they got sick?
Had to take care of selves. Went to church.
What is secure about life of peasant?
Always food and protection provided for.
Describe medieval art?
2D, Christian, Dull colors, disproportionate figures, no perspective
Timeline-Barbarian Invasion
200 CE – Wars in East Asia prompt the Huns, a nomadic people, to migrate into
Central Asia. This begins the domino effect.
350 CE – The Huns push Germanic Barbarian tribes out of Europe and into Roman
territory. The Romans get nervous as tribes move closer to Rome.
378 CE – The Visigoths, a Germanic tribe, defeat the Romans at the battle of
Adrianople and more invaders attack Rome’s borders in the west.
410 CE – The Visigoths occupy large parts of the western Roman Empire and
plunder Rome itself.
434 CE – Attila the Hun, called the “scourge of God” by Christians, conquers
much of Europe and forces more Germanic peoples into the Roman Empire. Attila
was called this by Christians because he was viewed as a someone sent by God, to
punish the Romans for their barbaric and self-indulgent behavior.
476 CE – The Germanic leader Odoacer ousts the last Roman emperor of the west
named Romulus Augustus. Most historians state that this is the year in which
Rome officially fell. Rome began with a Romulus and ended with a Romulus!
