Medieval Society

Medieval Society Charlemagne Feudalism Manorial system Medieval Society

Charlemagne • Why was he important? • King of the Carolingian Empire; also known as Charles the Great • Used counts (German nobles) as his representatives in local areas • Used 2 men to go & check on these counts to make sure they were doing their jobs • Empire covered most of western & central Europe

Charlemagne’s characteristics • Athletic • Spoke Latin; but couldn’t write • Delegated authority • Used local laws • Divided kingdom into districts • Great warrior • Revived the study of the classics • Set up schools for monks to copy early manuscripts • Christian leader • Empire fell after his death

Feudalism • People realized their kings are not protecting them from invaders • Began to look to nobles (aristocrats with land) for protection • Led to the development of Feudalism • Most important feature: • Idea of vassalage • Vassals swore an oath of loyalty to their lords, in return the lords took care of their needs

Characteristics of Feudalism • Knights were the main weapon in warfare • Part of the aristocracy • Wealthy lords would grant their vassals land in return for service, land called a fief • Land was the most important gift a vassal could get • Feudal contract: oath a vassal took to a lord; military service for 40 days a year

Nobility’s Responsibilities • Aristocracy or nobility: • Kings; dukes; counts; barons; bishops; archbishops • Held political, economic, & social power • Developed the idea of chivalry: code of ethics knights lived by • Defend the church, defenseless people • Fight for glory • Not always followed

Women • Could hold property • Still under control of men; father or husband • Had to manage the estate if their husbands were away (nobles) • Had to obey their husbands

Improvements in farming • Watermills • New horse collar so more horses could be used • Horseshoe • Heavy-wheeled plow • Shift from a 2 to a 3 field system of crop rotation • Villages would share animals & equipment

Manorial System • Manor: estate run by a lord & worked by peasants – most of these were serfs • Serfs: bound to the land; had to provide labor, pay rent, & under the lord’s control • Paid rent by giving the lord a share of the products they raised • Pay a tithe to the village church • Couldn’t leave without the lord’s permission • Couldn’t marry anyone outside the manor without the lord’s approval • Serfs were not slaves: land couldn’t be taken, lord had to protect them

Medieval Society • Daily life determined by the seasons of the year • Harvest time the most important • Most people didn’t know how to read • Basic food: bread • Most towns surrounded by stone walls • Narrow streets, crowded houses • Always a threat of fire • Pollution

Christianity in Medieval Society • Church officials began to be involved in political not spiritual matters • Pope Gregory VII decided he needed to reform the church • He claimed that the pope had the authority over all the Christian world; the Church would appoint the clergy, not rulers; if rulers didn’t accept this they would be removed • Henry IV (Germany) – didn’t agree with this; in Germany the kings appointed clerics to use them in their government, to keep power

Church Practices • Struggle between Pope Gregory VII & Henry IV • Henry wouldn’t follow the Pope’s orders • Finally settled in 1122 with an agreement • Concordat of Worms: bishop would be elected by Church officials, then work for the king • Church used the Inquisition to find heretics • May have to perform penance or be flogged • Could be tortured till you confessed • Christians believed heresy was a crime against God & using force was okay to try to save a soul

Ordinary people & religion • Most important part: sacraments (baptism, marriage, Communion) – way to get God’s grace & necessary for salvation • Saints were highly regarded: especially the Virgin Mary • Pilgrimages to holy shrines: the greatest, the Holy City of Jerusalem

Medieval Society