Medieval Europe Summative Flashcards
Fall of the Roman Empire
Rome ruled much of Europe
around the Mediterranean
Sea for over 1000 years!
However, the inner workings
of the Roman Empire began
to decline starting around
200 AD.
The city of Rome finally fell
in 476 AD.
First impact of the fall of the Roman Empire
It allowed different tribes to expand their territories into Europe. This
movement led to the creation of new kingdoms and many battles.
Second impact of the fall of the Roman Empire
This period of uncertainty and
change led to many seeking
protection and hope through
religion. This allowed for the
spread of Christianity across
Europe and Islam in Asia.
The tension between these two
religions would eventually lead to
a large war known as the
Crusades.
Third impact of the fall of the Roman Empire
Roads built by the Romans across Europe were no longer
maintained and the movement of goods that was coordinated and
managed by the Romans fell apart. As a result, there was less travel
and trade.
Fourth impact of the fall of the Roman Empire
As there was constant war between kingdoms, Kings needed large
armies. This resulted in a new social system called Feudalism. We will
learn about this later.
Lords
Wealthy nobles under the system of feudalism
Vassals
People who offered their loyalty and their service to a lord in
return for his protection and the granting of land.
Feudalism
A set of legal and military customs that served to organise the
society of medieval Europe and Japan, under feudalism, a lord gave a fief
(parcel of land) to a person (called a vassal) in exchange for service and
loyalty.
What is the Feudal System?
As a result of the barbarian raids from aggressive groups from 476 and 800 CE, a time
commonly known as the ‘Dark Ages’, this period consisted of ongoing warfare.
Therefore, people had to find new ways to protect and provide for themselves.
As a result, they moved onto lands owned by wealthy and powerful lords, where they
could be protected by the lord’s private army and take shelter in his castle during
attacks.
As payment their people, called vassals, worked the land for him and tended his
animals.
Understanding the Social Hierarchy in Medieval Europe
Feudalism was a way of organizing a society through a hierarchy.
A hierarchy is a social structure that organizes people with the most important group
on top and others ranked beneath.
In a feudal society, everyone from the king to the poorest peasant had certain rights
(things they could expect) and responsibilities (work they had to perform in return).
In a feudal system, a person could not change their social position.
For example: If a person was born as a peasant, they died as a peasant. Peasants
could not become nobles, no matter how hard they worked or how intelligent they were.
Minstrels
Medieval singers and musicians who typically wandered
around the countryside performing at events (often as part of a
small group).
Jesters
Medieval comedians who joked and ‘played the fool’ at
occasions such as banquets and fairs; they typically wore a multi-pronged floppy hat with bells on it.
Food for the rich
The rich would eat:
* A range of meats, fish, fruit, soft
cheese, eggs, vegetables, sauces,
soups, salads, white bread, pies and
tarts, and ornate sweet dishes called
subtleties.
* With their food, they drank ale, wine
or mead (a brew made from honey
and water).
Food for the poor
The poor would eat:
* Simpler and a less varied diet.
* This included stews, grainy, bread,
vegetables and fruit (when
available), milk, hard cheese,
porridge ate their main meal for the
day while working in the fields.
* They ate very little meat – they were
too poor to own and raise animals.
* Hunting for game (wild animals) in
the lord’s forests was forbidden.
They hunted for rabbits and birds in
the fields.
Entertainment for men
Hunting, falconry (Training falcons to attack small animals) and playing chess
were enjoyed. Hunts were typically conducted in the woods and forests surrounding
feudal manors.
