Life and culture(middle ages)

Question 1

• It is a social system that developed during the Middle Ages.
• Because there was no central government, people lived in smaller units or kingdoms.
• Landowners were the feudal lords who entrusted their fief or land to a vassal. These vassals were nobles.
• Act of Homage - official ceremony on the granting of land to a noble.
• Oath of Fealty - pledge made by the vassal to his lord.
• The landlord’s duty is to protect his vassal by providing an army to implement the laws under his jurisdiction. The vassal on the other hand had to help his lord in times of war.

Answer 1

I. Feudalism

Question 2

• describes how the land was distributed and who profited from it
• A lord received a piece of land, usually from a higher nobleman or from the king. When he received the land, he also received all that was on it. That means that most of the people that lived on the land also belonged to the nobleman. The people, called peasants, had to pay the lord, or they had to work for him. This way, the nobleman could live and support his family with what he received from the peasants. He also had certain legal powers, like that of a police force. The peasants were subjects who had to pay tribute to the lord. In return they received protection.
• Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in a manor.
• The manor was self-sustaining. It had the structures needed to keep the manor running.
• Each manor usually contained 15-3 families living in it. Apart from the peasants’ homes, the castle of the lord or the manor house and a church can be found inside a manor.

Answer 2

II. Manorialism

Question 3

• It is a process undergone by males to become skilled warriors called knights.
• At age 7, a boy is sent to a master to train him to become a page. At this stage, the boy is trained to use a weapon and how to ride a horse. By the age of 15, the boy becomes a squire and is given his own armor, weapon, and horse. In the training, he will be assisted by a knight who will accompany him in tournaments of knights and mock battles called jousting. At age 21, he becomes a knight.

Answer 3

III. Knighthood

Question 4

• a weekly market held in front of a church or a castle in the manor.
• for an additional source of income for the lord of the manor.
• It was usually held during holidays.

Answer 4

IV. Medieval Fair

Question 5

• Towns were permanent trading areas controlled by kings and feudal lords. This control made them richer but on the other hand, it made peasants desire freedom.
• To earn their freedom, some peasants launched uprisings while some bought their freedom from the king or their feudal master. Once free, they established their own local government, local court, tax system, etc, over which the king or feudal lords would have no authority. This gave rise to cities.

Answer 5

V. Rise of Towns and Cities

Question 6

• organizations formed by merchants and workmen.
• categorized into two:
  a. craft guild - a group of manufacturers with the same commodity
  b. merchant guild - a business association of merchants engaged in products made by craft guild members
• It makes sure that members follow the standard size, weight, and price of their products.- The guild maintained funds that were used to help disabled members, debt repayments, burial, etc.
• It protected the rights of the workers by prohibiting them to work at night due to the lack of natural light.
• Consumer rights were also protected by the guild. They made sure all products were of quality and prices were regulated.

Answer 6

VI. Guild System

Question 7

• middle class
• merchants, artisans, bakers, and investors

Answer 7

VII. Bourgeoisie

Question 8

• When the use of money spread, there grew a need to safe keep people’s money.
• Originated from money changers who were entrusted with the people’s money. The efficient recording of these money changers led to the establishment of banking institutions.

Answer 8

VIII. Banking

Question 9

• It was a concept used by Europeans to promote wealth and power. A country’s assets were used to acquire its basic needs – weapons, ships, etc – to strengthen its navy and army. When they have a stronger military, they will have an advantage over other countries which in turn will make them increase their colonies.
• This was one way Europeans abused their colonies.
• Two ways a country can gain power through mercantilism:

Answer 9

IX. Mercantilism

Question 10

• It defines wealth by the amount of precious metals owned

Answer 10

a. Bullionism

Question 11

• The activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale

Answer 11

b. Commerce

Question 12

• People from rural areas left the manors to try their luck in newly established towns and cities. This led to overcrowding.
• also known as the bubonic plague which was caused by a deadly bacterium.
• It claimed the lives of nearly half the population of Europe.

Answer 12

X. Black Death