Friday, May 16, 2014

Middle Ages

Christendom- combination between Christianity and kingdom
Taxes/tithe/tithing: 10% of what they make to the church
Byzantine Empire- eastern empire
·        It became more Greek, than roman
·        Stopped speaking so much Latin
·        Education is less more important
·        The only people who knew how to read were the priests and other people.
·        Regular people didn’t know how to read; they would be learning different types of jobs
·        Middle Ages- when civilization took a step backwards
·        The romans were no longer the center of trading and social life

·        Feudalism: a political, military and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances
·        In other words: the system is based on person loyalty to people who can help you
·        Rich Dude (LORD): “I own land; I need people to help me work it and defend it.”
·        Tough Dudes (VASSALS): “There are a lot of us, we can help the rich dudes hold on to their land.”
The Feudal Pyramid:
Top: KING
Next: the most powerful VASSALS (Nobles and Bishops)
Next: KNIGHTS-mounted warrior who received FIIEFS for defending their lord’s land
Next: PEASANTS (mostly SERFS) – landless, powerless, moneyless, rights- less; just working the land for “the man” (their lord)
Manor: the lord’s estate
·        The lord’s manor house
·        A church- very few windows, dark inside
·        Some workshops
·        15-30 families
·        All on a few square miles
·        Good news: it’s a self-sufficient community
·        Bad news: it’s harsh if you’re a peasant, if you don’t have any encounters with other people, you’re not learning about the world and its cultures
·        Peasants are poor and pay high taxes
·        Tax on grain
·        Tax on marriage
·        Church tax (tithe= 10% of their income)
·        They live in crowded cottages
·        Live with animals and insects
·        Eat very simply
·        The church says this is your lot in life

·        God determines your place in society 

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