Extension activity: Read the text below
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages in Europe was a time between 500CE and 1500 CE. It is also known as
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ times. Before this time the Roman Empire had practically ruled all of
Europe. After the Roman Empire disappeared, Europe was ruled by the Catholic church.
The Catholic church had enormous power and told the king and nobles, as well as the common
people, what to do. Since people in the Middle Ages feared God, everyone, (including the
king), did what the church told them to do.
In the Middle Ages in Europe there were three groups of people - the clergy (church
people), the nobles (rich people), and the commoners (poor people).
Kings found it difficult to rule big countries by themselves so they gave some power to the
noblemen – _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Everyone lived in a _ _ _ _ _ _
system;
where some people were richer and higher up in society, and some people were poor and
lower in society. Poor people worked for people higher up so they could get protection from
them, and people higher up looked after people lower down so they would work for them.
This is called _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
When you have finished reading, use the key words below to fill in the spaces in the text
above. You can use each word only one time.
Medieval
Feudal
Mutual
Obligation
Decentralization