Introduction Middle ages 5.1 The feudal system

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Early Middle Ages (500-1000 AD)

Memory game......read the following text and try to memorize it 

After the fall of the Roman empire, a period of decline started. 

At least, this is what scholars around the year 1500 believed. They admired the Roman civilisation and called the period that separated them from the Romans the Middle ages.

Historians and archeologists now know that the Early Middle Ages period (500-1000 AD) is worthy of study. 

At this time, two religions flourished and spread across Europe and other parts of the world: Christianity and Islam. 

People made beautiful jewellery, travelled the world and developed the written culture we are familiar with today. 

Let's find out more about the age of Monks and knights

Fill in the gaps

After the fall of the Roman empire, a period of decline started. 

At least, this is what scholars around the year 1500 believed. They admired the Roman civilisation and called the period that separated them from the Romans the Middle ages.

Historians and archeologists now know that the Early Middle Ages period (500-1000 AD) is worthy of study. 

At this time, two religions flourished and spread across Europe and other parts of the world: Christianity and Islam. 

People made beautiful jewellery, travelled the world and developed the written culture we are familiar with today. 

Let's find out more about the age of Monks and knights

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Content: 5.1 The feudal system

- How did the Roman empire fall?

- Why was Charlemagne an important Ruler?

- How did the feudal system work?

Germanic Tribes

- After the Roman Empire fell, they were rulers of their own local region, no longer ruled by Rome.

- The Franks had a warrior culture.

- Two Germanic Tribes were the Franks and the Frisians.

- Germanic society had a system of lords and vassals.

5.1 The feudal system:

Today's lesson:

• Listening exercise
• instruction /video   feudal system
• time to work
• recap

The Frankish empire

One of the local leaders was the Frank Childeric. He was not the leader of all the Franks, but he created a Frankish empire in the area he controlled around Tournai (Belgium). His son Clovis (466-511) was able to unite all the Franks under his rule by killing other leaders. Among them were several of his relatives. He saw them as competitors for his position. In addition, he conquered other areas to extend his territory. Although many battles for power would follow, the Frankish kingdom was from then on the most powerful empire of Western Europe.

Clovis became the first Frankish king. And more important; he also became a Christian.

The Franks had a warrior culture: it was common to fight. In combats and battles they could earn honour and booty. The amount of victories that a warrior had on the battlefield and the way he showed bravery and - to our eyes - cruelty, provided him with power. This can be seen in the story in which Clovis personally executes a warrior who had opposed his authority.

Clovis is baptised and becomes a Catholic Christian.

Frankish warriors

Lords and vassals

Lord is the term used in the Early Middle Ages for rulers, such as kings. In Germanic society, the bond between a lord and his followers, vassals, was very important. It was a personal bond based on mutual benefits. The benefits for the lord were that vassals fought for him and gave him respect. The lord’s power was demonstrated by the number of his followers. A powerful lord offered his followers protection, shelter and income.

The bonds between lords and their vassals were strengthened in the hall: a building that could accommodate a large group of people. In the hall people ate and drank, made music and listened to stories together. Important decisions were made here, about starting a war or forming alliances, for example. Visitors such as traders came to the hall to offer their goods. In the hall, the lord also gave gifts.

a vassal kneels and swears loyalty to his lord

Lords & Vassals

A system with mutual benefits
-> The lord gave his vassals protection, shelter, income and gifts. 
-> The vassals gave their lords respect, fought for him and gave advice when needed. 

Charlemagne

- Frankish empire was at its largest during his reign.

- Leader of the Carolingian culture

- He made sure his empire would develop laws, science and education.

Charlemagne was coronated as emperor in 800 AD

Notes

Feudalism 

Write in your notebook 

Writing = Remembering

What was Feudalism?

Feudalism: a system where the king divides his land to keep his kingdom under control.

The king gives land (a fief) to an important noble (a vassal). 

The vassal has to swear loyalty and promise military service. 

Land is wealth and power. 

Time to work

• Read par 5,1
  
• Make a summary
  
• Make exercises of par 5,1

Let's get to work.......

• Read par 5,1
• Make a summary
• Make exercises of par 5,1

I can explain why Charlemagne was an important ruler and innovator

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I can describe how the feudal system worked during the early middle ages

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