Humanities Revision Flashcards
In Medieval times, could kings do whatever they liked?
They did have a lot of power. However, they couldn’t do whatever they liked.
What limited the Kings power?
Powerful nobles, the Church (especially), laws, and councils.
Did peasants (poor farmers) have any power?
Peasants had very little power. They worked hard and had to pay taxes or rent to landowners.
Did peasants rebel?
Yes, they did as there is a significant amount of peasants compared to others.
What were medieval castles usually made of?
Usually made of stone or brick
Was everyone religious in Medieval times?
Most people were , but not everyone was deeply.
Where Church leaders powerfull?
Significantly powerful!!
Who were the Saxons?
English people (who had settled since the 500s)
Who were the Normans?
People from Normandy, in the north of France.
Land = POWER but why?
It gave you access to an army (the people who lived on your land had to provide you with military service)
It was a source of wealth
(people on your land paid you taxes)
Who were the tenants - in - chief?
Nobility
What was the order of the Feudal System?
King, Nobility, Knights, Peasants
When were medieval times?
500 - 1500CE
Who became King of England in 1066?
William the Conqueror
Who was below the King on the Feudal System?
The nobility
What did the knights have to do in the event of a war?
In a war, knights had to fight and defend their land.
Peasant were either freemen or …
Peasants were either freemen or serfs. Freemen had more rights and could own land, while serfs were tied to the land and had fewer freedoms.
What level of the feudal system were the bishops?
Nobility
To rebel means …
to fight or resist
Was William the 1st of England a Norman.
Yes
One thing William did in the “Harrying of the North’
destroyed villages and farmland in northern England
Two groups of people who would have been tenants - in - chief?
Barons and Bishops
The Normans first castles were called?
Mott and Baily
What was the ‘Harrying of the North’
When William the Conqueror destroyed much of northern England to stop people from rebelling.
2 types of peasants?
Freemen and serfs
What is an oath?
A promise
How did the feudal system help William control England.
- Distributing land to loyal supporters
- Creating a network of vassals who owed him military and other services.
- Managing local areas through his tenants-in-chief.
Was the kings power , military power?
Yes, he had a loyal supportive army
How seriously was William’s reign challenged in his early years?
In the first decade there were four rebellions. REMEMBER that there were a few thousand loyal Normans and around 2 million Saxons.
To harry (like harrying of the north)
To harass with repeated attacks
