Western Europe in the Middle Ages
Western Europe in the Middle Ages: Reading Questions
Early Middle Ages
1. How long did the Middle Ages last?
From decline of Rome (mid 400s CE) until 1450 CE
Narrowing Horizons
2. Who moved into Europe during the Early Middle Ages?
Huns from Asia pushed Germanic groups eastward, so Vandals, Goths, and Franks invaded western Europe. Angles & Saxons invaded Great Britain.
3. As people’s horizons (or views of the world) narrowed, what was lost?
Much of the knowledge, technology, trade, and government structure of Ancient Rome and Greece
Enrichment: Who do you imagine was affected most by the loss of Greek & Roman learning? Discuss with your classmates.
Charlemagne
4. Who was Charlemagne?
A skillful General of the Franks, who united much of the Western Roman Empire in 800 CE
5. List three things that Charlemagne accomplished.
A. Efficient government
B. Spread Christianity
C. Revival of learning and the arts
Enrichment: Charlemagne improved education in Europe. Describe your best memory related to your education. Discuss with your classmates.
Feudalism
6. Describe the system of feudalism.
A system of rule by local lords who were bound to a king by ties of loyalty
Feudalism governed the political, social and economic order.
The Structure of Feudal Society
7. Explain the roles that each of the following played in feudal society:
King: Head of society
Fiefs: Grants of land
Lords: Powerful Nobles who owed the king
Loyalty & military service in exchange
for fiefs
Vassals: Less powerful lords (nobles), who further divided their land among knights
Knight: Mounted warrior (noble) who owed his lord loyalty and service
Serfs: Common people who were tied to the lord’s land; they were not slaves, but they were not free to leave the land
(NOTE: Serfs were not slaves. Slaves could be bought and sold. Serfs could not.)
(Some Peasants had businesses and “freedom” to leave the land, but they only had protection on their lord’s land, so peasant life was much like serf life.)
Enrichment: What do you imagine were the advantages and disadvantages of feudalism? Discuss with classmates.
Status of Women
8. Describe the status of women during the Middle Ages.
A woman’s father, husband, or son had authority over her. Women were supposed to raise children and care for the household. They had few of the rights that men had.
Jewish Communities
9. How were Jews treated in the Middle Ages? Explain.
Jewish people faced discrimination and persecution. They were forbidden to own land and were often blamed for diseases or natural disasters.
Enrichment: Jews were often blamed for problems that they didn’t cause. This is called
“Scapegoating”. Does our society tend to scapegoat today?
Feudal Warfare
10. What was warfare like during the Middle Ages?
Warfare was constant. Lords battled often for power.
The Manor Economy
11. What was a manor and what happened there?
A manor was a Lord’s estate, made up of a village and the surrounding land. Manors were self-sufficient, which means the people produced almost everything they needed to survive.
Peasant Life
12. Describe the life of peasants during the Middle Ages.
Life centered around farming. Peasants spent 4 days/week farming the lord’s land and 2 days farming for themselves. They owed the lord part of their crops, and paid the lord fees to use his grain mill and ovens.
New Technologies
13. What new technologies were developed around the year 1,000? How did these technologies affect peasants’ lives?
Crop Rotation – planting a different crop each year improved the soil
Heavy Plow – allowed peasants to turn the soil more easily
Windmills – produced energy to grind grain
Enrichment: What new technologies have most affected your life? Discuss with your classmates.
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