Feudal System (Hailey B.)
The whole feudal system was built strictly on trust, loyalty, and honor to the higher class above you. The social pyramid consisted of four main groups. The highest group was called the Monarch also known today as a King or Queen. The second group was of the nobles or lords. The third group of the social system were the knights and vassals. The last group, and lowest class, was known as the peasants or serfs.
The two highest groups were the Monarch (which was the overall highest individual) and the nobles, lords and ladies. The Monarch owned all the land which he said was given to him by “God”. He would then divide his land up into sections and let one of his closest friends to rule over, these people were known as the Lords, Ladies, or Nobles. The Lord, Lady, or Noble would then take the land and supply the Monarch with taxes, these taxes were supplied by the residents of the land known as peasants or serfs. The Monarch was the most respected person in all the land and the lords, ladies, and nobles were greatly respected as well.
The two lower classes were the knights and the serfs. The knights were provided to the Monarch by the Lords and L:adies. The knights main purpose was to protect the castle of the monarch or the Lord, Lady, or Noble. The knights rarely fought in wars. As for the serfs, their main purpose was to work and farm for the Lord, Lady or Monarch. They were forbidden to make any eye contact or speak to any body in a higher ranking. It is said that the serfs were “tied to the land.” The peasants were townsman people that lived in the Lord, Lady or noble’s land. Each peasant, if he was a man, he would have a job. If the peasant was a woman she would have a large family and she was always needed at home. They only had one job, to supply taxes to the Monarch.
All of the social classes depended on one another. The monarch supplied the Lords, Ladies and nobles with land. The lord, Lady or Noble then had to supply loyalty and military aid to the Monarch. The lords ladies and nobles would have to supply the knight with protection, shelter, and food. The knights would then supply homage and military service to the lords, ladies, and nobles. The peasants would get shelter, food and protection from the higher classes. Then the peasants had to farm the land and pay taxes to the monarch.
Monarchs (Hailey B.)
Monarchs were the overall ruler of the kingdom. They were said to have been given the place of the Monarch supposedly by “God”. Monarchs were the highest level of the social class in all the kingdom. The Monarch would also be called the King or Queen. The life of the monarch was not simple at all, they had lots of duties, after all they did have to rule a huge kingdom.
When the Monarch was given his land, he would divide the land into parts. Then for each part he would give the land to be ruled over by one of his closest friends or alli. This individual was called Lord, Lady , or Noble. Then the Lord, Ladie or noble would have to supply knights to protect the monarchs castle and kingdom. Since the monarch was the most important person of society he or she would always have to attend many ceremonies and coronations, they were always busy and barely ever could relax. Most monarchs both historically and in modern day, were brought in by royal family. If there wasn’t a monarch, the society would probably crumble because the monarchs were so important. Myth busted!
When the Monarch was given his land, he would divide the land into parts. Then for each part he would give the land to be ruled over by one of his closest friends or alli. This individual was called Lord, Lady , or Noble. Then the Lord, Ladie or noble would have to supply knights to protect the monarchs castle and kingdom. Since the monarch was the most important person of society he or she would always have to attend many ceremonies and coronations, they were always busy and barely ever could relax. Most monarchs both historically and in modern day, were brought in by royal family. If there wasn’t a monarch, the society would probably crumble because the monarchs were so important. Myth busted!
Lords and Ladies (Ginger T.)
The ladies job was to have children and run a household in the middle ages . The ladies were the property of their husband. The noble women were not allowed to choose their own husbands, their fathers choose for them. The lord was the judge and jury whenever there was dispute between his vassals. Each lord owned a fief given to him from the monarch.
The ladies taught their daughters because they didn't go to school. The husband had complete control over his wife. The lords and ladies held much power but trot the most amount. The daily life of nobles start at dawn. The first meal of the day was breakfast. Mass would be heard and prayers would be made.
They pray every morning every night before they go to bed. The daily life of a peasant women started in the summer as 3am. She first had to prepare a breakfast,usually of pottage. Preparations had to be started in order to provide the daily meals. The names of famous kings scatter the history books. Many held extremely important influence over their sons. Queen and princesses and mistresses who shared the most powerful position with their loved one.
Knights (Angel C.)
The knight was one of the three types of fighting men during the middle ages: Knights, foot soldiers, and archers. Knights were covered in multiple layers of armor, and could plow through foot soldiers standing in his way. No single foot soldier could stand up to any one knight. Knights were also the wealthiest of the three types of soldiers. That is for a good reason. It was terribly expensive to be a knight. The warhorse alone could cost the same as a small airplane. Armor, shields, and weapons were also very expensive. In return for military service, the knight received a fief. When they captured a city, they were allowed to take their goods and valuables.
There were only a few ways to become a knight. The first way was the normal course of action for the son of a noble. When a boy was eight years old, he was sent to the neighboring castle where he was trained as a page. The boy was usually the son of the knight or of a member of the aristocracy. He spent most of his time strengthening his body, wrestling and riding horses. He also learned how to fight with a spear and a sword. he practiced with a wooden dummy. It was a heavy sack or dummy in form of a human. It was hung on a wooden pole with a shield. He had to hit it in the center. When hit, the dummy would spin around and around. he would have to maneuver quickly without getting hit. He would be taught to read and write by the schoolmaster. He could also be taught Latin and French. He would also be taught how to sing and dance by the Queen.
Serfs (Ty M.)
Serfs were the considered peasants. They wore old cloth that was usually dirty, ripped and uncomfortable. They grew crops which was taxes they had to pay to the monarch .peasants were never allowed to leave the land they were born on.
Peasants were not allowed to become knights they remained peasant. They were treated unfair to pay more tax just because they were as low as it can get. Many kingdoms would starve without peasants. This is because peasants grow and gather all the food.
Medieval Castles (Hailey B.)
Most modern day people when they hear the word castle, would form a picture in their mind of a grand white castle with beautiful architecture. This is not at all what they actually looked like in the medieval times. The castles in the medieval times were a prime military source. The people that trained at these castles were: knights, squires, men at arms and foot soldiers. Castles were the center of military tactics and training.
Each castle was equipt with many architectural advances. Some examples were the strong sturdy walls, gatehouse, moat, death traps, pull bridge, arrow slits and murder holes. These advances were useful in situations like wars, raids or battles. Not all of the parts of castles were meant to kill, there were some meant simply for looks. Castles had a grand tower, lots of rooms, glass window designs, tapestries, art and and halls. If the castle was home to a Monarch, it was usually grand. If it was home to a lord ladie or noble it would be less grand, but still very impressive.
Life in The Towns (Ginger T.)
Everyone in charge of building a castle had read or heard of the vegetius. Roman architect of the 4th century to get work done, the master-mason employed professionals. By modern standards medieval armies were small. William conquered england with an army of barely 12,000 and in 1214 the holy roman emperor. Roman emperor tried to invade france with only 9,000 men 1,5000 horsemen and 7,500 foot soldiers at the siege of calais in 1346. Henry V of england assembled the mightiest army ever seen-32,000 men and in 1449 the french town of fougeres stood up.
Laws Crime and Punishment (Ty M.)
Laws made it so women were not allowed to own businesses or become high with power. Jews were treated unfair and weren't allowed to practice their beliefs. punishment was very harsh in the dark ages. Punishment included, Being hung ,decapitated, boiled in tar Public humiliation or community service.
Peasants had to pay more taxes and were never allowed to leave the land they were born on. knights had to take an oth and swore to protect their kingdom. lords would show there peace and respect to the monarch and would get land in exchange. This is a very important law because the monarch needs help with governing the land. The monarch collects the taxes from his lords. The lords get those taxes from their serfs. Monarch owns all the land and theoretically he was chosen by “God.
Science, Medicine, and Superstitions (Angel C.)
Medicine was really basic during the middle ages when terrible illnesses like the Black Death were killing one third of the population. Medicine was limited. Physicians had no idea what caused the illnesses and diseases. The Catholic Church believed that illnesses were a punishment from god for sinful behavior. Letting blood was conducted by cupping or leeches. There were no antibiotics during the middle ages and was almost impossible to cure it without them. Medicine was made from herbs, spices and resins. The medicine was applied to drinks, pills, washes, baths, rubs, poultices, purges, and ointments.
Certain technical innovations during the Early Middle Ages, e.g., development of the heavy plow, the windmill, and the magnetic compass, as well as improvements in ship design, had increased agricultural productivity and navigation and contributed to the rise of cities, with their craft guilds and universities. These changes were more pronounced in N Europe than in the south. The introduction of papermaking (12th cent.) and printing (1436–50) made possible the recording of craft traditions that had been handed down orally in previous centuries. This served to reduce the gap between the artisan classes and the scholar classes and contributed to the development of certain individuals who combined elements of both traditions—the artist-engineers such as Leonardo da Vinci, whose studies of flight and other technological problems were far beyond their time, and the artist-mathematicians, such as Albrecht Dürer, who examined the laws of perspective and wrote a textbook on geometry.
Citations
Hailey's Citations
"Middle ages for kids-life of the nobility" medievaleurope.mrdonn.org, N.P., Web. 09 Feb. 2014
"Castles of the middle ages" Castles Of the Middle Ages N.P., Web. 09 Feb 2014
Scholars, Teen. "Lords and Ladies" Http.wwwteenink.com/nonfiction/article
"Middle ages for kids-life of the nobility" medievaleurope.mrdonn.org, N.P., Web. 09 Feb. 2014
"Castles of the middle ages" Castles Of the Middle Ages N.P., Web. 09 Feb 2014
Scholars, Teen. "Lords and Ladies" Http.wwwteenink.com/nonfiction/article