Transcript The Middle Ages: “Do what you`re told”

Life in Medieval Europe
The Middle Ages: “Do what you’re told”
1. Happened approximately from 476 until 1400 A.D.
2. Was a time of transition from the Roman empire to
Renaissance Europe.
3. Was often known
as the Dark Ages.
A. The Feudal System
1. Society was organized
in to strict classes.
2. Each level gave land to
the one below. Each level
gave service to the one
above.
3. The majority of the
population (90%) was
made up of peasants and
serfs.
B. The Roman Catholic Church
Leo X
1. The head of the church
was the Pope who lived in
Rome.
2. Nearly everyone in
Europe during this time
was a Roman Catholic.
3. The Pope even had
some power over the
actions of Kings.
Positive Things about the Church
1. Unity: Everyone believed: the same things.
2. Charity: Church was responsible for all charities and
hospitals.
3. Kept learning alive: Monks copied out many books
from Greeks and Romans.
4. Security: Gave people answers, rules, and
hope for the future.
"Reception and Treatment of the Impoverished Sick in a Monastery Infirmary," from the 13th Century.
Medieval hospitals offered their patients comfort but not medical care. Here patients were fed, given a place to rest, and
encouraged to pray for help from Heaven. Prayers have apparently worked for the patient in the upper right frame of the
painting, since angels are helping his soul (the small person) to heaven as he dies. The patient in the lower right frame has not
been as lucky - demons are receiving his soul.
"War in Heaven"
France, c. 1320
Psalter Hours of Yolande de
Soissons, French, Amiens, c.
1280-90
Negative Things about the Church
1. Wealth: The Church had the power to tax people.
Called a tithe. The Church became one of the wealthiest
institutions in Europe.
2. Fear: People were afraid of being shunned by the
church (excommunicated), or worse, burned at the stake
(as a heretic).
3. Dishonesty: The Church said you could earn your way
into heaven by paying big donations. (Indulgences)
4. Discouraged new learning: Science was often seen as
an enemy of faith.
Joan of Arc 1412 - 1431
May 30, 1431
English picture depicting the church sale of indulgences.
The church said you got to heaven not only through faith,
but also through good work (like donations to the church).
A view of the universe where the earth is the centre, not the sun
C. Life in the Country
1. Land was given to loyal nobles and knights by the
kings. The nobles would then control the land and rent it
out to peasants. The villages and farmland were called
Manors.
Buckinghamshire
15th and 16th century brick manor house
with fortified tower and stepped gables.
Originally the home of the Russell family,
then Earls of Bedford, and visited by
Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
2. Some peasants were free
and worked for the lord for
wages. Many peasants were
legally tied to lords and had
to work for them forever.
They were called serfs.
3. Lords were required to
protect their peasants and
serfs, as well as provide a mill
and an oven. In exchange the
peasants and serfs paid
taxes, as well as providing
free labour.
a Medieval Cottage (13th century) from Hangleton, Sussex
4. Housing. Peasant
housing was pretty
basic: wattle and daub
(wood and mud). The
roof was thatch made
from straw.
David Teniers the Younger. Flanders. In a Peasant Cottage.
Floors were dirt. There were usually two rooms, and
often you lived with any animals you had.
Banquet royal
Grandes Chroniques de France, 1375-1379
5. Diet.
Peasants ate: bread, grains, cabbage, peas, milk,
cheese, eggs, ale, fruit; but very little meat.
Nobles ate: all of the above plus lots of meat, fish, and
foods with spices.
D. Life in a Castle
1. The purpose of a castle: protection.
2. Parts of a castle:
D. Life in a Castle
1. Living conditions in
a castle:
cold, drafty, dark, damp,
cramped, crowded.