Europe After the Fall of Rome
After the Roman empire fell, people began to move to the countryside and former Roman lands. As more people moved to these lands, they began to become states. Warlords soon called themselves kings of these states that soon transformed into kingdoms. This was the the beginning of the middle ages or the medieval time period.
When this time period started, most of the kingdoms were not Christian, but as a new and powerful force began to rise Christianity began to spread. This force was known as the pope. The pope was the ruler of Christianity. He would send out missionaries to spread the teachings of the religion that would soon influence many events and advancements during the middle ages and hopefully bring some light after the dark fall of Rome.
All throughout Europe kingdoms and rulers were being born and Christianity was continuing to grow. The middle ages were becoming an important time period that would impact world history forever.
When this time period started, most of the kingdoms were not Christian, but as a new and powerful force began to rise Christianity began to spread. This force was known as the pope. The pope was the ruler of Christianity. He would send out missionaries to spread the teachings of the religion that would soon influence many events and advancements during the middle ages and hopefully bring some light after the dark fall of Rome.
All throughout Europe kingdoms and rulers were being born and Christianity was continuing to grow. The middle ages were becoming an important time period that would impact world history forever.
The Feudal System And Rolls in Society
During the middle ages, the way the monarch would rule their territory was with a form of government called the feudal system. The feudal system allowed the monarch to divide his land among his most trusted lords in order to receive help ruling their large kingdom. The land that the monarch gave to his lord was called a fief. After a lord was given land he was able to divide his own land and give smaller parts to lesser nobles. Lesser nobles were then allowed to give some of their land to knights. The feudal system was extremely useful and helpful especially when another kingdom was on their way to attack the castle because the king was able to discover what was going on.
In the feudal system all rolls in society were needed because a citizen’s ranking in society was determined by how much land they owned. The highest class in the social hierarchy was the monarchy, the class which included the king and queen. The king and queen were the supreme rulers of their nation and their position was often hereditary. The kings and queens could also be determined by divine right, which meant that they were chosen to rule by God.
The next social class, just under the monarchs was the nobility. This class contained nobles, lords and ladies. These people were given land by the monarch and helped the king rule. Whoever was in the nobility class owned a large amount of land and was born into wealthy families.
Knights were another social class that had a large amount of power. Nights were warriors and soldiers during the middle ages. The were born into noble families and began training to become nights at a very young age. Knights were also given small portions of land to rule by a lord or vassal.
Below Knights were merchants and skilled craftspeople. The people who were in this social class were often wealthy, but it was not unlikely for there to be a poor merchant or craftsman. During the Middle Ages merchants were defined as any person who sold goods. Craftsmen included people with professions such as butchers, bakers, weavers, cloth-makers, dyers, glassmakers, and other artisans’ goods.
The lowest social class on the social hierarchy was the class that contained peasants and serfs. Serfs and peasants were important to the manor, but they had no power. They were country farmers that had many skills and worked hard to maintain the castle. Peasants and serfs were basically the same except peasants were free and were able to leave the land and serfs could not leave without permission.
Feudalism was an amazing advancement during the middle ages. It was smart, convenient, and a light side that changed the government.
In the feudal system all rolls in society were needed because a citizen’s ranking in society was determined by how much land they owned. The highest class in the social hierarchy was the monarchy, the class which included the king and queen. The king and queen were the supreme rulers of their nation and their position was often hereditary. The kings and queens could also be determined by divine right, which meant that they were chosen to rule by God.
The next social class, just under the monarchs was the nobility. This class contained nobles, lords and ladies. These people were given land by the monarch and helped the king rule. Whoever was in the nobility class owned a large amount of land and was born into wealthy families.
Knights were another social class that had a large amount of power. Nights were warriors and soldiers during the middle ages. The were born into noble families and began training to become nights at a very young age. Knights were also given small portions of land to rule by a lord or vassal.
Below Knights were merchants and skilled craftspeople. The people who were in this social class were often wealthy, but it was not unlikely for there to be a poor merchant or craftsman. During the Middle Ages merchants were defined as any person who sold goods. Craftsmen included people with professions such as butchers, bakers, weavers, cloth-makers, dyers, glassmakers, and other artisans’ goods.
The lowest social class on the social hierarchy was the class that contained peasants and serfs. Serfs and peasants were important to the manor, but they had no power. They were country farmers that had many skills and worked hard to maintain the castle. Peasants and serfs were basically the same except peasants were free and were able to leave the land and serfs could not leave without permission.
Feudalism was an amazing advancement during the middle ages. It was smart, convenient, and a light side that changed the government.
Life in The Castle
By the thirteenth-century, life in the castle was far from dull and boring. Although there were not endless amounts of furniture, rooms were still highly decorated and never looked bare. Cupboards were built into the walls, there were many chests for storage, the walls were decorated with tapestries, and paint was bright most of the time. Glass was also available but very rare. Light was provided by candles or oil lamps.
In a castle the rich would eat very well. Their meals consisted of ten courses, but at royal banquets that number extended to about several hundred courses. These meals could last for hours. The tableware was made of metal such as silver or pewter and the food was usually spiced and fresh. Evening meals consisted of gourmet meals, and great entertainment performed by jesters, jugglers and acrobats.
In a castle the rich would eat very well. Their meals consisted of ten courses, but at royal banquets that number extended to about several hundred courses. These meals could last for hours. The tableware was made of metal such as silver or pewter and the food was usually spiced and fresh. Evening meals consisted of gourmet meals, and great entertainment performed by jesters, jugglers and acrobats.
Life in The Town
Life in a town was very different than life in a castle. Towns were dirty and unsanitary, they smelt bad, and the level of violence and crime were very high, but on the bright side people were free and could do what they wanted.
Since the level of violence was high, thick stone walls were built for protection. As towns began to grow in size and population new buildings had to be built in open places within the walls, which made the towns cluttered and crowded, but sometimes new walls would be constructed.
When more town formed it caused feudalism to decline because serfs were leaving the manors to live in the towns. This caused the power of lords to decrease and the kings once again had all of the power and support. Since the lords were gone the middle class began to rise and towns began to form their own governments.
Although people had freedom and a working government the towns were still poorly constructed. Ugly wooden buildings were crowded together, and streets were unpaved, narrow and foul smelling. the whole town would be covered with garbage because people didn’t use trash cans, instead they would throw their trash and waste on the street. This attracted flies and rats who carried diseases.
Living in a town was both light and dark because there was freedom and poor construction on the dark side.
Since the level of violence was high, thick stone walls were built for protection. As towns began to grow in size and population new buildings had to be built in open places within the walls, which made the towns cluttered and crowded, but sometimes new walls would be constructed.
When more town formed it caused feudalism to decline because serfs were leaving the manors to live in the towns. This caused the power of lords to decrease and the kings once again had all of the power and support. Since the lords were gone the middle class began to rise and towns began to form their own governments.
Although people had freedom and a working government the towns were still poorly constructed. Ugly wooden buildings were crowded together, and streets were unpaved, narrow and foul smelling. the whole town would be covered with garbage because people didn’t use trash cans, instead they would throw their trash and waste on the street. This attracted flies and rats who carried diseases.
Living in a town was both light and dark because there was freedom and poor construction on the dark side.
Crime and Punishment
During the middle ages crime and punishment was on the “dark side”. The consequences of committing a crime were far worse than going to jail. For example, if someone were to steal anything they risked having their hands and ears amputated, getting branded, shamed with rocks, or whipped. For almost every crime death was an option for punishment.
Although there were many crimes that could be committed, witchcraft was looked down upon the most. If a woman was accused of witchcraft there were many ways to find out if she was guilty or innocent. One way to find out was ordeal by water. In this event the suspect was tied up and thrown into a pond. If she sunk she was innocent, if she floated she was guilty. Sadly, if she was innocent she would drown.
Ordeal by water was not the only way a suspect was found innocent or guilty, there was also ordeal by fire and ordeal by combat. In ordeal by fire the suspected criminal had to walk three paces with the hot end of a metal rod in their hand. The wound was severe and would blister, but if it healed quickly the person was innocent. In ordeal by combat the suspect would have to fight the person who told authority about the crime. Who ever won was right, the guilty one was already dead. In comparison to today, medieval crime and punishment was on the dark side of medieval life.
Although there were many crimes that could be committed, witchcraft was looked down upon the most. If a woman was accused of witchcraft there were many ways to find out if she was guilty or innocent. One way to find out was ordeal by water. In this event the suspect was tied up and thrown into a pond. If she sunk she was innocent, if she floated she was guilty. Sadly, if she was innocent she would drown.
Ordeal by water was not the only way a suspect was found innocent or guilty, there was also ordeal by fire and ordeal by combat. In ordeal by fire the suspected criminal had to walk three paces with the hot end of a metal rod in their hand. The wound was severe and would blister, but if it healed quickly the person was innocent. In ordeal by combat the suspect would have to fight the person who told authority about the crime. Who ever won was right, the guilty one was already dead. In comparison to today, medieval crime and punishment was on the dark side of medieval life.
The Role of Women
During medieval times men dominated society so it made life for women had and uncomfortable. In towns and villages a woman’s role was to support her husband and family. They would do many jobs that men did not do, but if she were to do the same job she would be payed less than the man, and the women were not allowed to openly complain about the inequalities.
Woman had to stay away from advanced jobs, but were allowed to do jobs that involved making clothes. The absolute best job a woman could get was to be a servant for the rich.
Men set laws to limit women’s power and freedom. These laws didn’t allow women to get married without their parents blessing, divorce their husband, own property or a business, or inherit land if they had any brothers. Once a woman was married she lost all freedom and was owned by their husband.
In all a woman’s life during the medieval time period was dark with few bright sides. They had little power and freedom and did not stand a chance against the men who dominated society.
-Chyna R.
Woman had to stay away from advanced jobs, but were allowed to do jobs that involved making clothes. The absolute best job a woman could get was to be a servant for the rich.
Men set laws to limit women’s power and freedom. These laws didn’t allow women to get married without their parents blessing, divorce their husband, own property or a business, or inherit land if they had any brothers. Once a woman was married she lost all freedom and was owned by their husband.
In all a woman’s life during the medieval time period was dark with few bright sides. They had little power and freedom and did not stand a chance against the men who dominated society.
-Chyna R.