Unit 3 Europe in the Middle Ages
Day 14 Skinny 27-28
Unit 3 Essential Question
What political and economic systems
emerged in the Middle Ages?
How was the Roman Catholic Church a
unifying force?
Invasion! (Sound familiar?)

800-1000



Muslims from south
Magyars from east
Vikings from north
With so many invasions, people relied on themselves
to defend their land



No central government or ruler was protecting them
Local nobles who could arm the people gained authority
because they had the power to protect the land
Invasion! (Sound familiar?)

800-1000



Muslims from south
Magyars from east
Vikings from north
With so many invasions, people relied on themselves
to defend their land



No central government or ruler was protecting them
Local nobles who could arm the people gained authority
because they had the power to protect the land
Security/Freedom

911—Rollo (Viking) made peace with Charles the Simple
(King of France).


Charles let Vikings take control over Normandy (northern
France)
One of many agreements to stop invaders and bring peace
King Charles—
Lord, or landowner
Gave up control of land to
Rollo—Vassal
Led to
Security—Peace for common people
Feudalism Vocabulary





lord—landowner
fief—land granted to a vassal or knight to oversee
vassal—wealthy landowner who runs the fief for the lord
knights—mounted horsemen who pledge to defend their
lord's lands in exchange for fiefs
serfs—bound to the land, could not leave it and all their
labor produced belonged to the lord
Manors—A Secure Place to Live

Manor = lord's estate

Economic system

Economic agreement between the lord and
the serfs
Lord provides housing,
farmlands, protection
Serf farms the land,
tends the animals,
maintains the manor
Job Security
Serf (this is most of the people—they could not
leave the land) and peasant (every other poor
person) owes lord certain duties
•
•
Work for a few days each week for the lord
Turn over part of the grain from the area they
farm to the lord
Serfs/peasants kept some of the grain and other
farm products to feed their families
Serfs/peasants lived in houses provided by the
lord
Economics of Manor
Women, men, and older children were
expected to work
Serfs & peasants raised/produced all needs
•
•
•
•
•
•
Crops
Milk & cheese
Fuel
Cloth
Leather goods
Lumber
Economics of Manors
They only had to buy a few items
•
•
•
Salt
Iron
Unusual objects such as millstones
Crops raised
•
•
•
•
•
Wheat
Rye
Barley
Oats
Vegetables
These were ground or
processed at the mill
Who got to eat this stuff?
Economics of Manors

See page 362 in softcover text for places in a manor








Manor House—the lord and his family lived there
Village Church—for religious and public meetings
Peasant Cottages—homes for workers
Lord's Demesne—fields owned by the lord,
where the peasants worked to fulfill their duty to
the lord
Crofts—gardens where peasants grew their own
food
Mill—usually on a creek or river, where grain was
processed
Common pasture—animals grazed here
Woodland—forest where they got wood to burn
as fuel
Mill—part of the self-sustaining economy
Gears turned so
that the millstones
rubbed against
each other, grinding
the grain which was
placed on them to
flour.
Mills were often
powered by a water
wheel over a stream
Main Idea Check
How did the decline of trade (remember the
invaders had destroyed the business centers in
their raids) make this type of economic system
necessary?
Write down the best ideas from our class~
Manor Life—Not that great
Peasants paid for privilege of serving lord
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tax on all grain ground into flour at the mill
It was a crime to get your bread elsewhere
Marriage was taxed
Church charged a tithe, or church tax of 10% of
their income
Cottages were small and crowded
They lived with their pigs inside because they were
warm!
Straw beds were infested with bugs
Work, work, work for your lord and your own food
Manor Life—Still not too great
Life expectancy only 35 years
Most never traveled more than 25 miles from
home.
The Church taught God gave your your position in
life, so most were content.
What problems did peasants face?
Write a help wanted ad for serf
Example
Wanted: Employee willing to work
long hours for only the food he or
she can produce. Women and
children welcome to apply.
Contact Lord Hector at the manor
house.
The best answer will have details about how hard
the peasant's life will be, how much he has to give
to the lord and the church, his housing, and life
expectancy.
In Summary
serf
manor
fief
lord
vassal
tithe
knight
Write statements with the words displayed.
Participation rubric--100% for three words used
correctly. 67% for two, 33% for one.