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Medieval Study Guide

• When did the Medieval Times (or The Middle Ages) take place? This period, is from about 476 AD to 1450 AD (roughly from the 5 th to the 15 th century). It is called the “Middle Ages” because it is in the middle of the periods known as Ancient History and Modern History. Many historians consider the beginning of the Middle Ages around the time of the fall of the Roman Empire (476) and the end around 1450 (beginning of the Renaissance).

• On what continent does most of the Middle Ages history occur? The Middle Ages happened mainly in Europe - although sometimes it spilled over into other places.

• What does the term “feudalism” mean? Discuss the rolls involved in the feudal system. Feudalism was a system of social structure based on the exchange of land for military service. Feudalism in England can be easily described through a pyramid:

• At the top of the Feudalism Pyramid was the King. The King claimed ownership of the land. • The King granted the land to important nobles. These nobles then pledged their loyalty by swearing to serve and protect the king. • The king also granted land to the less powerful military men (the knights) who were called vassals. The vassals also agreed to fight for the king in exchange for their land. • Tradesmen were skilled workers who produced many of the goods or services that were needed during the Middle Ages. Some examples of tradesmen include: blacksmiths, merchants, millers, tanners, barbers, etc. • Clergy were the religious people of the Middle Ages. They were members of the Roman Catholic Church. Following the pope (in order of rank) were bishops, priests, monks, and nuns.

• The land was worked by the peasants or serfs. Peasants were free, lived on and farmed the land in exchange for protection, and were very poor. At the bottom of the Feudalism pyramid were the serfs. Serfs farmed the land, belonged

to the land, and could not leave without the lord’s permission. • • •

What does nobility mean? Who were considered nobility? Nobility means a socially or politically privileged class of people. In medieval times, the nobility included Kings, Lords,

Knights, and Ladies.

• • What type of person was skillful on horseback? At what age did this person begin training? Knights in the Middle Ages were skillful on horseback and fought for their lords in battle. Knights had to do through these stages during their training: page, squire, then knights. At the age of seven or eight, a nobleman's son began training for knighthood. During this first step of training, boys were called pages. At age 14 or 15, a page could become a squire. Each squire was assigned to a knight. The squire assisted the knight to whom he was assigned. Once a squire proved himself in battle, and his knight felt he was ready, he could become a knight himself. Squires were knighted in elaborate ceremonies.

• What was the role of the church in Medieval Society? In Europe during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was very powerful. The lives of the people of the Middle Ages were dominated by the church.

• What type of window was used for religious instruction? Why? Stained glass windows were used for religious instruction. Each window showed a religious scene. Since most people could not read, the church used stained glass windows as an effective way to teach people about religion. • • What was the Black Death? How did it affect this time period? In Medieval England, the Black Death was the name given to a disease called the bubonic plague which was widespread during the Fourteenth Century. The Black Death was caused by fleas carried by rats that were very common in towns and cities. • • What is jousting? A joust is defined as a fight between mounted knights wearing armor and using lances. Jousting was a favorite form of entertainment during the Middle Ages. Jousting contests took place at Medieval tournaments which provided a venue for Knights to practice various forms of combat to the delight, and for the amusement, of crowds of onlookers.

• What were the crusades and how did they impact this time period? The crusades were a series of military conflicts waged by Christians against the Muslim countries of the Middle East. The conflicts were in the name of Christendom, and the goal was to recapture Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Literally “crusade” means “War of the Cross.”

• What is a jester? What is a troubadour? A jester is a professional clown employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the Middle Ages. A troubadour was a poet, musician, or storyteller who traveled from castle to castle to provide entertainment.

• Why were castles built? Castles were designed to be a fortified home of a lord. Since the power and security of a lord depended upon his ability to defend himself, castles were designed to withstand a siege and to mount a defense.

• What are some of the parts of a castle and for what are they used? (Be familiar with at least 6 of the following. You don’t have to know them all.) • The Moat: A moat was built around many of the castles. This was a deep ditch surrounding the castle walls, filled with water. A bridge was built to cross the moat. The bridge was raised during an attack. • The Drawbridge: The drawbridge was the bridge built across the moat. This bridge could be raised and lowered for added protection from intruders. • The Keep: The keep is the main stone tower inside the castle walls. It housed the living quarters for the castle’s residents. • The Great Hall: This was the biggest room in the castle. Important meetings took place here. The lord’s family, his knights, and his guests ate their meals here. During Feasts (celebrations) entertainers such as jugglers and troubadours performed in the Great Hall. • The Chapel: The chapel was build either inside the lord's home or as a separate building. The chapel was a place to hold religious services. • The Bailey: An open area enclosed by the castle walls. • Arrow Loops: Narrow slits in castle walls through which arrows were fired. • Portcullis: A heavy wooden grating that could be slid down to close a gateway at the entrance of a castle. • Gatehouse: The gatehouse was a building used by the guards at the gates. The gatehouse usually had extra defenses. • Dungeon: The jail, usually found in one of the towers • Garderobe: The latrine/toilet • Turret: A small tower rising above and resting on one of the main towers, usually used as a lookout point. • Machicolation: Projections in castle walls through which objects (such as hot oil, sand, or rocks) can be dropped on attacking enemies. • Battlements: A battlement is a wall at the top of the fortification. Battlements have gaps called crenels and solid places called merlons. The crenels and merlons give the tops of castle walls their sawtooth or notched look. • Spiral staircase: Most castles had spiral staircases that wound upward in a clockwise direction. They were built this way to slow down invaders. • Kitchen: Because people cooked over open fires during this time period, kitchens were usually in a separate building from the main part of the castle.

• How did people in Medieval Times defend their castles and attack their enemies? (Be familiar with at least 4 of the following. You don’t have to know them all.) • battering ram- a large beam used to hammer and break down the walls or doors of castles • mace -a club-like armor-breaking weapon of war, often with a flanged or spiked metal head, used chiefly in the Middle Ages. • longbow-a large powerful hand-drawn bow • crossbow-a type of medieval bow fixed in a cross direction on a wooden stock to direct a square-headed arrow • catapult- a military weapon for hurling stones, arrows, debris, or even deal animals over castle walls. • lance- a long weapon with a pointed head used by horsemen to unhorse or injure an opponent during a joust • sword- a weapon carried by a knight and used for defense • pike - a medieval weapon consisting of an iron or steel spearhead joined to a long pole • arrows - a long slender pointed weapon, usually having feathers fastened at the end as a balance, that is shot from a bow. • trebuchet- a large medieval siege engine for hurling missiles consisting of a sling on a pivoted wooden arm set in motion by the fall of a weight • siege tower- a large wooden tower on wheels that could be pushed close to the castle walls in order to allow attacking soldiers to climb over the walls of the castle