Medieval Society and Politics

1. 6th Grade UBD - Unit 9- Medieval Society and Politics Medieval Society and Politics

2. Preview • Feudalism and Manorialism- During the Middle Ages in Europe, the military and political system of feudalism and the economic system of manorialism developed. • England, France, Spain, and Russia Form Stronger Kingdoms- The monarchs of England, France, Spain, and Russia form stronger kingdoms, which eventually develop into nation-states. • The Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War- The Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War had a strong cultural and political impact on Europe.

3. Reach Into Your Background • In today’s Europe, castles can be seen rising above the landscape of many towns. Why do you think people built castles during the Middle Ages? What do you think the land around castles was used for? Why do you think people stopped building castles? (5 minutes)

4. Partner Activity • Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

5. Key Ideas- Feudalism and Manorialism • Feudalism was based on a system of a lord granting land to a vassal in return for services. • Feudalism produced a social system divided into four classes: kings, nobles and church officials, knights, and peasants. • Knights followed a code of behavior called chivalry. • Peasants worked the land for their lord and had few rights.

6. Welcome to Medieval Europe Video- Welcome to Medieval Europe

7. Key Term Middle Ages- The Middle Ages are the period in Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance. During this time, Europe was divided into smaller kingdoms.

8. The Feudal System • The Middle Ages in Europe lasted from about 400 CE to 1500 CE. • This period can be divided into three sections: the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and the Late Middle Ages.

9. The Feudal System • During the Middle Ages, Europe was divided into smaller kingdoms. • Secular and religious authorities struggled for control and influence within these states.

10. The Feudal System • The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE had a great impact on Europe. • The Roman Empire had provided cultural unity throughout Europe as well as protection against outside forces. • Without the empire, stability was lost.

11. The Feudal System • Many of the advances in technology and culture that occurred during the Roman Empire halted during the Middle Ages and Europe divided into numerous small kingdoms.

12. The Feudal System • During the 800s CE, the ruler Charlemagne managed to reunite many of these kingdoms into an empire. • However, after his death, the empire again fragmented into smaller kingdoms.

13. Key Term Charlemagne- One of Europe's most successful monarchs who managed to reunite much of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. However, after his death, the empire again fragmented into smaller kingdoms.

14. The Feudal System • Each of these kingdoms was divided into smaller sections, called fiefs. • In the Early Middle Ages, most kings did not have much control over their kingdoms over time this changed.

15. Key Term Fief- Land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.

16. A New System • Soon after the death of Charlemagne a political and military system called feudalism developed. • Within this system, lords owned huge amounts of land. • A lord could be any nobleman, member of a high-ranking class that owned a fief and allowed a person to use part of it.

17. A New System • Vassals received a portion of the crops that these peasants produced. • Vassal promised to be loyal to and fight for his lord. • Because of this, vassals often kept an army composed of professional soldiers called knights.

18. A New System • Individuals who agreed to use a portion of a lord’s land were known as vassals. • Ownership of the land remained with the lord, but he allowed the vassal to tax the peasants on the land and keep the proceeds.

19. Feudal Society • Feudalism gave rise to a hierarchical social system that that consisted of four classes: king, nobles and church officials, knights, and peasants.

20. Key Term Feudalism- A political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land.

21. Manorialism • Within Medieval Europe an economic system called manorialism developed. • In this system, the central focus of each fief was the lord’s manor house. • Some lords developed the manor house into a castle, which was often surrounded by thick stone walls for protection.

22. Manorialism • The land surrounding the castle was used for farm buildings, peasant houses, a grain mill, orchards, and gardens. • The peasants did most of the work that was needed on the manor. • In return for their work, the lord provided protection for the peasants by maintaining an army.

23. Feudalism: Life in a Castle Video- Feudalism: Life in a Castle

24. Manorialism • Many peasants who worked on manors were serfs. • Serfs were not slaves, because they could not be bought or sold. • However, serfs did not have the freedom to leave the manor. So in this way, they were bound to their lord’s estate.

25. Key Term Manorialism- An economic system based on the manor and lands including a village and surrounding land which were administered by a lord.

26. Key Term Serf- A person who was allowed to have a house and a plot of land in return for paying rent to his or her lord.

27. The Workers of Feudalism Reading Handout- The Workers of Feudalism

28. The Rise of Kings • During the High Middle Ages, the economy of Europe began to get stronger. • Farms yielded more crops, more people became prosperous, and the population grew significantly. • Soon a merchant class began to arise.

29. The Rise of Kings • Trade routes developed along rivers, and roads and towns sprang up along these routes. • These towns were also populated by peasants who, because of the improved economic conditions, were able to save money and leave their manors.

30. The Rise of Kings • This movement of peasants from manors to towns caused the system of manorialism to break apart, and feudalism to weaken. • The economic recovery also made kings wealthier. Kings hired powerful armies, gained control over their lords, and established control over large areas.

31. The Rise of Kings • During the Late Middle Ages many kingdoms continued to increase in size and power and eventually formed into nation-states • During the Late Middle Ages, four powerful kingdoms developed into nation-states—England, France, Spain, and Russia.

32. Key Ideas- England, France, Spain, and Russia Form Stronger Kingdoms • During the High Middle Ages, many kings obtained more money, enabling them to form a strong army, gain more power over lords, and expand their kingdoms. • Kings gained in power until nobles and church officials forced King John to sign the Magna Carta. • The Magna Carta has become of model for people who want to establish a democratic government. Also, the strong kingdoms established by medieval monarchs developed into modern nations, such as Great Britain, France, Spain, and Russia.

33. The Year 1066 Reading Handout- The Year 1066

34. England • During the Early Middle Ages, two tribes dominated the kingdom of England—the Angles and the Saxons. • In 1066, William of Normandy and his forces defeated the Angles and Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.

35. England • William became king of England. • As king set up a strong central government and established an advisory council to assist him with governing. • Later, Henry II set up the English system of common law—laws that applied equally throughout England, including to the nobles.

36. The Great Charter • After the death of Henry II, Richard I, called Richard the Lion-Hearted, became King of England. • He proved to be an ineffective ruler spending most of his time away from England fighting in the Crusades.

37. The Great Charter • After Richard’s death, his brother John gained the throne. • King John angered the nobles with a series of laws and decrees that the nobles believed were unfair. • In 1215 CE John was forced to sign a document called the Magna Carta.

38. Key Term Magna Carta- A document that granted a list of rights to nobles and limited royal power. The common person, gained few rights from this document.

39. The Great Charter • The Magna Carta granted a list of rights to the nobles, thereby limiting royal power. • The common person, though, gained few rights from this document. • Even so, the Magna Carta later became a model for people who demanded democratic rights for all.

40. The Magna Carta Video- The Magna Carta

41. France • In the Early Middle Ages—specifically, the early 900s—French nobles chose Hugh Capet as their king, thus establishing the Capetian dynasty. • This line of kings gradually expanded and strengthened the French kingdom. 

42. Spain • The High Middle Ages saw the beginnings of the kingdom of Spain. • In 1469, Prince Ferdinand of Aragon and Princess Isabella of Castile married, thereby uniting the powerful kingdoms into one Spanish kingdom.

43. Spain • Ferdinand and Isabella viewed Muslims and Jews as a threat to their crown and, as a result, welcomed the Inquisition in Spain. • The Inquisition, meant to stamp out non-Christian and nonorthodox practice and beliefs, was carried out across Europe.

44. Spain • In the Spanish kingdom the Inquisition was the worst in Europe Muslims and Jews, as well as ordinary Spanish Christians, were accused, tried, tortured, banished, and killed.

45. Key Term The Inquisition- An attempt by the Catholic Church to fight heresy.

46. Key Term Heresy - The holding of beliefs that contradicted the teachings of the Church

47. Russia • During the 900s, Russia consisted of a group of principalities that were each independently ruled by a prince. 

48. Russia • Weakened by civil war, Russia fell to Mongol invaders led by Genghis Khan in the 1200s. • Mongol rule over Russia lasted for more than 200 years. • In the late 1400s, Ivan III drove the Mongols out of Russia, beginning the slow process of unifying the country. 

49. Key Term Genghis Khan- Leader of the Mongol empire.

50. Wait For It...The Mongols! Video- Wait For It...The Mongols!