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Introduction to the middle ages

Feudalism and the Manor. Introduction to the middle ages. Introduction to…. The period of the Middle Ages begins in roughly 500 CE/AD and lasts up to about 1450. Why do historians use this periodization? What is historical periodization?. What two periods bookend the Middle ages?.

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Introduction to the middle ages

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  1. Feudalism and the Manor Introduction to the middle ages

  2. Introduction to….

  3. The period of the Middle Ages begins in roughly 500 CE/AD and lasts up to about 1450. Why do historians use this periodization? What is historical periodization? What two periods bookend the Middle ages?

  4. The Extent of ancient rome • Vast and sprawling, the unified empire governed from Rome and occupied by a mighty military created the “known world” • Rome falls in the late 400s CE/AD to eastern invaders.

  5. After the fall of rome…. • The unity of Europe is lost. • Politics and government become local, centered upon the feudal estate or principality.

  6. A view of society in middle ages • Three Broad Groups • Those Who Pray • Monks living in monasteries across Europe • Those Who Work • Those Who Fight • Lords and their vassals, including knights

  7. Social hierarchy in the middle ages • Of the 3 large groupings of people, the substantial majority of Europeans were “those that worked” • Feudal nobility or elites were few in number, but held great power. • Religious leaders were few in number, yet powerful – Where are they on this hierarchy?

  8. Another view of society in middle ages • Feudal Europe existed at two broad levels. • 1. The Lord/Vassal relationship. Aristocracy • 2. The Feudal noble and those that lived on his estate or feud – the peasants, most of whom were serfs.

  9. Trying to Understand Politics in Middle Age - Feudalism • Feudalism defined: • A social and political system based upon bonds of loyalty and grants of a fief or feud by a mighty lord to a lesser lord, his vassal. • In return, the vassals promise to fight and protect the greater lord. • The Aristocratic Level

  10. Those who worked - Serfdom • Serfdom defined – A non-free person residing on the lord’s land, who while retaining certain rights of personage, was required to perform labor service on the lord’s land. • A slave – the human property of the lord. • Serfdom was a hereditary condition and serfs had to pay their lord a variety of taxes.

  11. What did the fief or feud look like? • Manor House – Where the lord or his representative lived. • Fields were worked communally, with two fields planted yearly. • Third field would lay fallow.

  12. Economy of Middle Ages - Manorialism • Manorialism describes the services and obligations of the peasant classes. • Economic power of those that fought were linked to landed estates, so feudalism and manorialism were linked.

  13. Manorialism Continued • “By the year 800, perhaps 60 % of the population of western Europe – completely free a century before – had been reduced to serfdom.” McKay, A History of Western Society, p. 262 • Why would peasants surrender themselves to the lord’s jurisdiction? • For protection! From whom?

  14. Check your comprehension • Why are the Middle Ages so called? • What are some synonyms for the Middle Ages? • What is the periodization for the Middle Ages? • Describe the social structure of the Middle Ages. • Describe the link between feudalism and manorialism?

  15. Where are we headed? • Renaissance or rebirth, seeks to (re)capture the emphasis and brilliance of learning and literature that existed back during….? • Is it a true break from the Middle Ages or an evolution?

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