The Middle Ages (Medieval Times)

1. The Middle Ages(Medieval Times)

2. Feudalism-political system of the (exchange grants for loyalties) • Parts of the feudal system • Estate/Manor- an estate granted to nobles for their loyalties (military service) • Vassal- landowning noble • Serfs- peasants who worked land for nobles (given plots to work and live in exchange for taxes and soldiering)

3. B. Other terms for the feudal system • Homage- pledge of loyalty • Code of knighthood (good manners)- brave, truthful, defend church, respect women • C. Hierarchy of feudal system • Kings-at the top-provide land for vassals • Lived in castles • Castles are on hills or surrounded by moats for protection

4. 2. Vassals- nobles dukes, lords, etc.-provide military (knights) 3.Serfs- bottom- peasant farmers who worked the land • Medieval Society A. Economic advances • Expansion of towns and roads = expansion of trade (to be a town you had to receive a charter) • Expansion of trade = new inventions and ideas

5. New inventions = better farming (Ex. Plow) • Money economy, no barter system B. Development of Businesses • Guilds- groups of businesses who would control the market, they set prices and regulated their town business (keep out competition) • Masters- owners of shops (skilled artisans) • Journeyman- a paid apprentice (would become a master when they submitted their own masterpiece)

6. 4. Apprentice- worked for master without pay to learn the trade The development of business is the beginning of the modern middle class family C. Negative Aspects of growing population in cities • Overcrowding = less jobs • Overcrowding = more crime • Overcrowding = more disease • Bubonic Plague(black death)-1348-1350 • Killed 1/3 of Europe population

7. E. Advances in literature and art • Rebirth of epics (narrative poem)- Beowulf • Troubadours- traveling poet musicians (told stories) • Vernacular-Canterbury Tales(Geoffrey Chaucer) • Gothic architecture- high arches, buttresses