The middle ages - A Brief History

The Middle Ages

EuropeBetween

500 and 1500 A.D.

Castle

Home to the King and Queen

Where would you build a castle?

• On a high hill. Easy to see, easy to defend.

• On a rocky cliff

• Near a river or lake, the water served as a barrier to attackers.

Order of the ManorKing

Noble

Peasant or Serf

Knight

King

Divides and distributes land

NoblesPledges loyalty to the King.

Sends military when requested by the King.Provides shelter and protection to the serfs.

Nobles were also called “Vassals” a helper

to the king.

KNIGHTS

Pledges loyalty to the Kingand Nobles.

Serves in the military.

Protected the castleand the land.

Provides shelter & protection to the Serfs.

They were sons of Nobles.

It took many years to become a Knight.

Training started at age 7.

He learned how to hold a sword, ride a horse and lance.

Peasants or SerfsLargest but poorest part of the population.

Did most of the labor.

Grew crops to feed theKing, Knights & Nobles.

Pays rent & taxes.

Life in the Middle Ages

• You lived in a small village or manor.

• The King owned all the land.

• Peasants or “Serfs” worked on the manor. They grew food and made goods to support the Noble’s family.

Medieval Occupations• Acrobat

• Bookbinder

• Gravedigger

• Herbalist

• Jester

• Rat Catcher

• Shoemaker

• Armorer

• Astrologer

• Dyer

• Fortune-Teller

• Fisherman

• Scribe

• Stone carver

• In return for their labor the Noble protected the serfs from attacks.

• The Noble himself was a tenant of the King.