Today’s Notes

2. Today’s Notes Charlemagne Feudalism in Europe Noble Life Peasant Life

3. Who was in control of Western Europe in our last discussion?

4. The Germanic tribes who were in control of most of Western Europe were mostly farmers and herders.

5. Around 800 A.D. Charlemagne (Charles the Great) created an empire stretching across France, Germany, and most of Italy.

6. Charlemagne united Europe under Christianity. He sent missionaries all across his land and its borders successfully converting many to Christianity.

7. After the death of Charlemagne in 815 his empire fell apart. It was divided three ways by his grandsons. Treaty of Verdun

8. What major enemy now lays to the South of Europe? (North Africa)

9. Due to the scare of Muslim invasion a system of Feudalism was developed in Europe.

10. F I T Z GERALD E U D A L I S M

11. Feudalism System of government in which land was granted by the King to lords/nobles, who in turn granted land to peasants. Peasants worked the land and paid their lord keeping only a small amount of food and money for themselves. The Lords owed duty to the King and took oath to protect him and his kingdom.

12. Nobles Vassals

13. The relationship between lords and vassals was established by a mutual contract/agreement known as a Feudal Contract.

14. A lord granted his vassal a fief, or estate of land. (This could be a few acres or hundreds of miles) The contract also required that the lord protect his vassal, and the vassal must pledge loyalty to his lord.

15. The Life of Nobles

16. At a very young age, male children of Nobles were sent to Castles and trained to become knights.

17. Rival lords often battled each other for power and control of lands. Knights adopted a code of conduct called chivalry. Chivalry required knights to be brave, loyal, and true to their word. (They had to fight fairly) This only applied to nobles.

18. Noblewomen also played an important role. They took control of their husbands duties, supervised the household and supervised the lower lords and vassals while her husband was off fighting. Both noblemen and women usually wrapped themselves in fine linen and furs.

19. Life of a Peasant

20. The heart of peasant society revolved around the manor or lord’s estate. Most peasants were serfs that were bound to the land. They could not leave the manor without the lord’s permission.

21. Peasants and lords were tied together by mutual obligations. Peasants had to work several days a week farming the lord’s land. They also repaired roads, bridges, and/or fences.

22. Peasants were self-sufficient on the manor. They were able to produce everything they needed such as food, clothing, furniture, and tools.

23. Life as a peasant was mostly harsh, they worked long hours, usually from sunup to sunup to sundown. The wife often walked beside the husband and helped plant seeds and work the oxen. Children helped plant, pulled weeds, and took care of the livestock.