Last Name:_______________________ First Name:_______________________ Date:_____________ Per.:____
Unit 1, Chapter 2, Part 1
SAS- The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe: Part 1 (Pages 19-29)
Middle Ages Feudalism Lord Knight Serf Peasant Barbarians
Kingdoms
Franks
Clovis
Pope Leo III
Charlemagne
2.1
Feudal
System
Introduction
In the last chapter you learned about the legacy of the Roman Empire. Its fall in
476 C.E. is the beginning of the Middle Ages. In this chapter, you will learn about
the system of feudalism that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Historians divide the Middle Ages into three periods. The Early Middle Ages
from about 476 to 1000 (524 years) C.E. The High Middle Ages lasted from
about 1000 to 1300 (300 years). And the Late Middle Ages lasted from 1300 to 1450 (150 years).
Changes Over Time: Complete the timeline below with the 3 different periods of the Middle Ages.
After the Roman Empire collapsed, life was difficult and dangerous in Western
Europe. People worked very hard simply to survive while also needing to protect
themselves from barbarians and other neighboring kingdoms. Due to these
challenges an economic and political system (feudalism) was created. In feudalism
people promised their loyalty to a lord, or powerful landholder. In return, the people
received protection from the lord. Knights, or armed warriors, fought on behalf of
the lord. Peasants, worked the land. Serfs, at the bottom, were peasants not free to
work the lord’s land. In this chapter you will learn more about the difficulties people
Medieval Knight
faced during the Middle Ages, the rise of feudalism, and explore what daily life was like.
Different Perspective: How many perspectives can be found in feudalism so far? _______
2.2
Western Europe During the Middle Ages
For 500 years much of Europe was controlled by the Roman Empire. The rest of the continent was
controlled by groups of people Romans called barbarians. When Rome fell the rest of Europe was
conquered and controlled by these groups of barbarians. With no more central government or system of
defense, kingdoms were created. These different kingdoms often fought each other for control of land.
The winners were usually those with the best warriors, or knights.
Charlemagne’s Empire
One powerful group at this time was the Franks1. They became very powerful because of the unique style
knights2 used by fighting on horses. To get and hold power, the ruler needed many knights to be loyal to
him. The ruler then rewarded them with land and privileges.
One of the great first leaders of the Franks was young warrior named Clovis. Five years after becoming the
King of the Franks, he defeated the last Roman army. During the 30 years that he was king, he extended
the territory of the Frankish Kingdom. Clovis also helped lead the Franks in Christianity after he married a
Christian woman and was eventually baptized in the Roman Catholic Church. Many of his loyal followers
would also become Christian.
BIG IDEA: POWER
The BIG IDEA for this year will be POWER. POWER can be exercised, or used, in many ways. Look back
at what you have just read and explain at least two ways power was used and by who?
1)____________ displayed power when ____________________________________________________
2)____________displayed power when_____________________________________________________
1
2
Today, the country of France gets its name from these people.
Knights were well protected with suits made of steele. See picture above.
The most important leader of the Franks was Charlemagne (Charles the Great). He
ruled for over 40 years. Primary documents say that he was six feet four inches3.
He was extremely tall for his time. Legend has it that he could not read or write, but
loved having someone else read to him. He encouraged education and scholarship,
but most importantly he unified all of the Christian lands in Europe into one empire.
Charlemagne built his empire with the help of Pope4 Leo III. During this time the
church was a central part of society. For Charlemagne, the blessings of the church
Pope Leo Crowns Charlemagne
sent the message “God is on my side.” In return, the pope needed someone with
Holy Roman Emperor
an army, such as Charlemagne. In return for Charlemagne’s help, Leo III crowned
Charlemagne Holy Roman emperor.
BIG IDEA: POWER- Who had more power? Charlemagne or Pope Leo III? Explain.
____________ had more POWER because_____________________________________________________
After Charlemagne’s death his empire fell to barbarian attacks. The rulers who came after him were weak
and could not defend the empire he had created. Still, these kings helped prepare the way for feudalism
by following Charlemagne’s example of rewarding knights with land for their military service.
A Need for Order and Protection
In the 9th (800s) and 10th (900s) centuries, western Europe was
threatened by three main groups. Muslims, or followers of the
religion of Islam, attacked Spain. Magyars, a central Asian people,
pressed in from the east. And Vikings swept down from present day
Norway and Denmark. The Vikings were fierce warriors who struck
fear into the people of Europe. At times, they wanted to take the
land to set up settlements and live there. But they were best known
for their terrifying raids, or attacks, on towns and villages.
Invasion Routes of Western Europe
Opinion: How would you defend yourself if you knew Vikings were going to attack your town?
I would defend myself and town by
Clearly, the people of western Europe needed ways to defend themselves. To protect themselves and
their property, they gradually developed the system we call feudalism.
BIG IDEA: POWER- How was the POWER that the Vikings had different from the POWER that
Pope Leo III had? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
In your own words, find the meaning of the words below:
1) Feudalism:___________________________________________________________________________
2) Middle Ages:__________________________________________________________________________
3) Lord:________________________________________________________________________________
4) Knight:_______________________________________________________________________________
5) Serf:_________________________________________________________________________________
6) Peasant:______________________________________________________________________________
7) Barbarians:___________________________________________________________________________
8) Franks:_______________________________________________________________________________
9) Clovis:_______________________________________________________________________________
10) Pope Leo III:__________________________________________________________________________
11) Charlemagne:_________________________________________________________________________
3
4
Kobe Bryant is 6 feet 6 inches.
Pope: Supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church
Robin Hood is a heroic outlaw in English folklore, and, according to legend, was also a highly skilled archer and
swordsman. The outlaw has derived a reputation for performing humanitarian deeds, and in particular for "robbing
from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men".
Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes. According to some accounts, the
legend has its roots in the activities of actual medieval outlaws, or the ballads or tales that circulated about them.
Robin Hood became a popular folk figure in the medieval period, and continues to be widely represented in modern
literature, films and television. In the earliest sources Robin Hood is a yeoman, but later portrayals raise him to the
level of an aristocrat wrongfully dispossessed of his lands and made into an outlaw by an unscrupulous sheriff.
(adapted from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood, on August 26, 2014)
Ethics: Robin Hood has often been portrayed as a hero for “robbing from the rich and giving to the poor”.
Are his actions ethical (right or wrong)? Why?
Robin Hood’s actions (were/ were not) ethical because ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________