Chapter 3: Foundations of Medieval Europe (500-1050)

Recalling Facts

The battle of Tours was important because it:
a. stopped the Muslim advance into Europe
b.
c.
Charlemagne sent tout missi domiici to
a.
b.
c. check on the administration of justice and defense
After Charlemagne’s death, his empire was
a.
b. attacked by Vikings
c.
A vassals chief role is to:
a. The vassal gave his military service.
b.
c.
A peasant owed
a. A tithe
b.
c.
One way the Church disciplined its critics was by
a.
b. excommunication
c.

Chapter Checkup

1. What steps did Charlemagne take to:
a) improve government and unify the empire?
He defeated the Lombards who had occupied Italy, won northern Spain from the Muslims, battled the non-Christian Saxons in the north, and defeated the Avars and occupied their land. He recruited talented officials, called Royal officials, called missi dominici, or lord’s messengers, checked on local nobles. He also established uniform laws.
b) Revive learning?
Charlemagne invited scholars to his court. He invited a learned Anglo-Saxon monk and set up a palace school to teach his schildren and the nobel’s children. He made rules for the education of clergies, and ordered monasteries to establish libraries and schools. Students learned Latin.
2. What happened to Charlemagne’s empire after his death?
His empire weakened because of the fighting among themselves. Later, his grandsons drew a treaty which divided the kingdom into three parts. The Vikings and Muslims later took over.

3.
a. Why did feudalism develop in Western Europe?
The nobles needed to govern his estates properly, and they needed an agreement that would apply to them all.
b. How did feudalism become more complex?
It became complex because of the practice of subdividing fiefs. The nobles fought for the estate of the other’s, and the fighting fragmented power.

4.
a. What rights did noblewomen have in feudal society?
The noblewomen had very few rights. They could inherit a fief, but they could not rule it. Her husband, father, or oldest son are the only people who are allowed to rule it.
b. What were their main duties?
Their main duties are to raise a large family, educate her daughters, entertain her husband’s guests, and feed them as well.
c. How did the lives of noblewomen and peasant women differ? How ere they similar?
d. Peasant women as well as noblewomen worked extremely hard. They gave birth to many children and endured the dangers of disease and warfare. Peasant women made food for her family, as well as sewed garments to keep her family warm. They sometimes worked in the fields. Noblewomen didn’t.
5.
a. Describe a medieval manor.
Manors are set on the highest land, fortified. It could be of wood or stone.
b. In what ways was it self-sufficient?
Peasants grew grain for food and raised sheep for wool. Blacksmith made tools and weapons.
6.
a. How did changes in methods and technology improve agriculture?
The heavy plow turned soil, horseshoe on horses meant that horses can be used for plowing. The watermill and windmill provided energy, and miners began producing lots of iron, which was used for farming tools.
b. What effect did the “Great Clearing” have?
The peasants are set free and it provided large areas for agriculture.
7. Describe how each of the following influenced life in the Middle Ages:
a. Parish priests
They helped care for the sick and poor. They also collected the tithe, or tax paid each year to the Church. They also served as teachers
b. “Peace of God”
The church demanded that warring nobles do no harm other people and that fighting must stop between Friday and Sunday each week.
c.Religious orders
Lots of people dedicated their lives to god, and monks took vows of chastity or purity.

For Further Thought

1. Expressing an Opinion
Do you think feudalism was an effective system for enforcing law and order? Why or why not?
I think it was quite an effective system, but not the fairest. In Canada, the democratic society allows everyone to be fairly equal with each other, but feudalism would have lots of upper-class people bullying lower-class people. Although it is not the best way to govern a country, it is still effective. It was orderly, and the country thrived under it.

2. Relating Past to Present
Why was the code of chivalry important in medieval society?
It was important because the nobles and the royal family depended on knights to be loyal. The code of chivalry made the knights obey the king and fight wars as they were told.
Are there any modern rules of conduct that might be considered a code of chivalry? Explain.
The fact that we all have to go to school every weekday is considered a code of chivalry, in my opinion. We learn so that we can act under the orders of the president when we grow up. L

3. Taking a Stand
In the fifteenth century, some people referred to the early Middle Ages as the “Dark Ages” because they thought civilization had disappeared after the fall of Rome. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
I agree and disagree at the same time. After the Fall of Rome, Europe was plunged into an age of wars and famine. But after Charlemagne conquered, there was an age of piece. After Charlemagne died, Europe went into another age of wars and battles.

4. Applying Information
The Medieval Church has often been described as the heir of the Roman Empire. What evidence supports this view?
The Medieval Church helped maintain order in Europe as well as calm people down. For example, warring nobles were not allowed to fight between Friday and Sunday. This helped calm people down. They also maintained order and provided education. Priests, normally ordinary people, were educated, and in turn, they educated other people.

Developing Basic Skills
1. Map Reading
Study the map on page 43. Then answer the following questions:
a. What information does the map provide?
It gives us a map of Charlemagne's Empire. The land in yellow is the Kingdom of the Franks, and the land in brown is Conquests of Charlemagne.
b. Describe the territories Charlemagne added to his empire.
Charlemagne added half of Italy, the border of Spain, and a little of north Germany.
c. What do you think prevented further expansion?
I think the Vikings fought back, as well as other people.
d. How did the Treaty of Verdun affected Charlemagne's empire?
The treaty of Verdun divided Charlemagne's land into 3, and those 3 were ruled by his sons. This caused the county to crash.

2. Using Diagrams
The diagram on page 49 illustrates many common features of medieval manors. Study it carefully and answer the following questions:
a. What major buildings were located on a manor?
The Lord's mill, the Pasture, and the Church.
b. How was manor land used?
Lots of it were for farms. There was Spring Planting and Fall Planting.
c. Why do you think peasants were given strips of land in different fields?
They were given strips of land in different fields so that they can grow different crops in the different strips of land. The soil won't wear out that way.
d. How does the diagram show that the manor was self sufficient?
The have food provided, the Church provides education, the Lord governs everyone, and they generate their own energy from the Lord's Mill.
3. Making Generalizations
Reread the feature on page 50 and the discussion of life on the manor on pages 49 - 50. Then answer the following questions to make generalizations about peasant life:
a. What three facts support the generalizations that peasants worked very hard?
The whole family works on the farm, year round. Bodo and Wido (his son) works on the farmed land while Ermentrude (his wife) sews, spins wool, heared the sheep, and watched her two smallest children.
b. Make a generalization about the payments the peasants owed their lord.
I think it is quite a burden to give their lord money, as giving tax is to us.
c. What generalization can you make about peasants' leisure time?
I don't think they have much leisure time at all. Their leisure time must be between the time the eat dinner and the time they sleep. They probably would huddle around the fireplace after dinner and read a book.