LESSON 3.18 Review 3.18.1
Key knowledge summary Use this dot point summary to review the content covered in this topic. 3.2 How do we know about medieval Europe? • Much of what we know about medieval Europe is from different types of evidence that provide us with information. • Sources from medieval Europe include artwork, written sources and artefacts, monuments and buildings. 3.3 What are the key features of the feudal system? • Feudalism, a method of ordering society, was expanded and developed over the period that Charlemagne ruled in Europe. • The system was based on the monarch giving land to the wealthier nobles and lords in return for their loyalty and taxes. • With the land, the nobles and lords gained power over the peasants who lived and worked there, which gave them an income. • Below the nobles were the knights, who were their sub-tenants. In return for land, they gave loyalty to the lord, fought for him and paid tax they earned from their peasants. • The feudal system was an effective way to maintain social order. • Towards the end of the Middle Ages things began to change in relation to the feudal system, as the towns and cities grew. 3.4 How was life for people in the feudal system? • Quality of life in the Middle Ages depended largely on what position a person held in the feudal system. The nobility, knights and barons all lived reasonably comfortable lives with privileges. The clergy generally led simple and scholarly lives. Peasants, though, had few rights and life was very hard. • Men did all the farm work, which was mainly physical labour. • Most peasants had no formal education. • Women, even those of higher classes, had few rights. Their purpose was to provide children. Most peasant women also did farm labour work such as food preparation, looking after livestock and weaving. • Children were also regarded as sources of labour as soon as they were old enough to help. 3.5 What were the defence features of the medieval castle? • In medieval times, castles were built to protect the monarch’s or lord’s lands, as well as for them to live in. • Early castles were of motte-and-bailey design: a keep built on a high mound, surrounded by a ditch or moat. The high position gave the people in the keep the advantage when they were being attacked. • During the Middle Ages castle designs became more and more sophisticated, with heavy concentric walls, battlements and drawbridges. • Within the castle there were troop quarters, stables, armouries, living quarters, kitchens and dining halls. • By the end of the Middle Ages, feudalism was declining, castles were no longer effective as a show of strength, and weaponry had developed, so that older weapons no longer stood up to an attacking army.
TOPIC3 Medieval Europe 109
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