Intro- Feudalism /2.2 Western Europe During the Middle Ages

Intro- Feudalism

The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 C.E. marks the beginning of the period in Europe known as the Middle Ages. In this chapter, you will learn about a political and economic system that developed during the Middle Ages. 

Multiple Choice

476 C.E. marks the beginning of the period in Europe known as the _________

• dark ages

• middle ages

Historians divide the Middle Ages into three periods. The Early Middle Ages lasted from about 476 to 1000 C.E. The High Middle Ages lasted from about 1000 to 1300. The Late Middle Ages lasted from about 1300 to 1450. 

Multiple Choice

How many periods is the middle ages divided into

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a name of a period ..

• High

• Middle

• end

• late

The Early Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome. The Roman Empire had unified much of Europe for about 500 years. After the empire collapsed, life was dangerous and difficult in Western Europe. People worked hard simply to survive and to have enough to eat. They also needed to protect themselves from conquest by invading barbarians and neighboring kingdoms. 

Multiple Choice

The Early Middle Ages began with the fall of ______

• Japan

• America

• Rome

These challenges gave rise to the economic and political system historians call feudalism (FEWD-ahl-ism). In the feudal system, people pledged loyalty to a lord—a ruler or powerful landholder. In return, they received protection from that lord. Warriors fought on behalf of their lords. Peasants worked the land. At the bottom of the system were serfs, peasants who were not free to leave the lord’s land without permission.

Multiple Choice

These challenges gave rise to the economic and political system historians call ____________

• feudalism

• newism

Multiple Choice

Were peasants allowed to leave the land without permission ?

• no

• yes

In this chapter, you will learn more about the difficulties people faced during the Early Middle Ages. Then you will learn about the rise of feudalism and how it helped to establish order and security after the fall of Rome. Finally, you will explore what daily life was like for people living under feudalism. 

2.2 Western Europe During the Middle Ages

For 500 years, much of Europe was part of the Roman Empire. The rest of the continent was controlled by groups of people the Romans called “barbarians” because they did not follow Roman ways. When Rome fell to invading barbarians in 476 C.E., Europe was left with no central government or system of defense. Many invading groups set up kingdoms throughout Western Europe. These kingdoms were often at war with one another. The most powerful rulers were those who controlled the most land and had the best warriors. 

Multiple Choice

These kingdoms were often at war with one another

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

“barbarians” was someone who

• followed Roman ways.

• did not follow Roman ways.

Charlemagne’s Empire

One powerful group during this time was the Franks (from whom modern-day France takes its name). The Franks were successful because they had developed a new style of warfare. It depended on troops of knights, heavily armed warriors who fought on horseback. To get and hold power, a ruler needed the services and loyalty of many knights. In return for their loyalty and service, the ruler rewarded knights with land and privileges. 

Multiple Choice

The Franks were unsuccessful because they had developed a new style of warfare

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

In return for their loyalty and service, the ruler rewarded knights with land and ______

• power

• privileges

• prime

One of the early leaders of the Franks was an ambitious young warrior named Clovis. In 481 C.E., at the age of 15, Clovis became leader of the Franks. Five years later, he defeated the last great Roman army in Gaul at Soissons. During his 30-year reign, he led the Franks in wars that greatly extended the boundaries of the Frankish kingdom. 

Multiple Choice

_______ years later, he defeated the last great Roman army in Gaul at Soissons.

• 2

• 4

• 5

• 6

Multiple Choice

a leader of the Franks was named

• David

• Jonathan

• Clovis

Clovis also helped lead the Franks into Christianity. Clovis married a Christian woman, Clotilda, and eventually was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. Many of his followers became Christians, as well

The most important leader of the Franks was Charlemagne (SHARluh-main), which means "Charles the Great." This impressive king ruled for over 40 years, from 768 to 814. Writings from that period say that he was six feet four inches tall—extremely tall for his time—and “always stately and dignified.” Legend has it that he read very little and couldn’t write, yet he loved to have scholarly works read to him. 

Multiple Choice

"Charles the Great," also known as

• Jason

• Charlemagne

He encouraged education and scholarship, making his court a center of culture. Most important, he unified nearly all the Christian lands of Europe into a single empire. One of the poets at his court called him the “King Father of Europe.” 

Multiple Choice

education and scholarship, was discouraged

• true

• false

Charlemagne built his empire with the help of a pope—Leo III, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church was a central part of society during this time. For Charlemagne, the blessing of the Church sent the message, “God is on my side.” For his part, Leo needed the support of someone with an army. In return for Charlemagne’s help, the pope crowned him Holy Roman emperor in 800 C.E. 

Charlemagne’s empire survived many attacks. After his death in 814, however, it quickly fell apart. The weak rulers who followed him could not defend the empire against new waves of invasions. Still, these kings helped prepare the way for the system of feudalism by following Charlemagne’s example of rewarding knights with land and privileges in return for military service

Multiple Choice

Charlemagne died in..

• 814

• 816

• 177

Multiple Choice

Charlemagne’s empire did not survive many attacks.

• true

• false

A Need for Order and Protection

In the 9th and 10th centuries, Western Europe was threatened by three main groups. Muslims, or the followers of the religion of Islam, advanced from the Middle East and northern Africa into what is now Spain. The Magyars, a central Asian people, pressed in from the east. Vikings swept down from present-day Norway and Denmark. 

Multiple Choice

How many groups were they threatened by?

• 1

• 2

• 3

The Vikings were fierce warriors who struck fear in the people of Europe. At times, the Vikings' intent was to set up colonies. But they were best known for their terrifying raids on towns and religious centers. Picture a Viking attack. The people of the town are at early morning church services when an alarm bell starts to peal. Vikings! 

Multiple Choice

The _________were fierce warriors who struck fear in the people of Europe.

• Bob cats

• Vikings

Long, shallow wooden boats have brought the Vikings close to shore. Now they leave their boats and run toward the town with swords and axes raised over their heads. People are running in all directions. Several villagers who try to resist are killed. Others are seized by the Viking raiders and taken back to the ships.

Clearly, the people of Western Europe needed to figure out new ways to defend themselves. To protect themselves and their property, they gradually developed the system we call feudalism. Let’s find out how it worked. 

Multiple Choice

Clearly, the people of Western Europe needed to figure out new ways to defend themselves

• True

• False