the middle ages
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How many of these pieces can you identify? What time period did Chess come from and why?
Feudalism
• A political and economic system of Europe during the 9th – 15th century based on the holdings of land
Feudalism
1. King– Considered owner of all the land– Position of king inherited
2. Lords or Barons– Swore loyalty to king– Gained a “fief” – land for military commitment
3. Dukes or Earls– Got land that was divided up by lords or barons– Collected taxes to pay to lord, lord then paid king
Feudalism
4. Knights– Knights worked for lord and served in exchange for
food/ shelter or land– Knights responsible for collecting taxes from
peasants and protecting them– Enforced the will of the lord
Knight Code of Chivalry
• Constant belief in the church and obedience to its teachings• Willingness to defend the church• Respect and pity for all women and weak people• Love of country• Refusal to retreat before the enemy• Strict obedience to the feudal lord• Loyalty to truth and to your pledge• Generosity in giving• Championship of the right and the good in every place and
at all times against the forces of evil
Feudalism
5. Peasants– Two types• free peasants and serfs
– Serfs tied to land and couldn’t leave– In exchange for using the land for farming and to
build a house, had to pay taxes• Taxes taken in food, livestock, or other things of value
Norsemen (Vikings)
• Largest threat during Middles Ages were the Norsemen (Vikings)– Norsemen or North Men
had poor land in Scandinavia
– Therefore went out pillaging for loot, wealth, and land
– Had growing population so needed settlements
Middle Ages = Growing power of the Catholic Church
• Things were bad for people in the middle ages
• Thought happiness would come in heaven
• Must therefore listen to church
• Church becomes very powerful
The Catholic Church in Middle Ages
• Purpose of church– act as a middle man
between people and God– Only by listening to church
would get you to heaven
• Excommunication was used as a main political weapon against people, especially those who questioned the church’s authority
The Catholic Church in Middle Ages
• Most people not educated, except for clergy– Clergy knew Latin which all religious texts were written in– Monopoly of knowledge gave church leg up on everyone
else• Church Economic Powerhouse– Received Tithes: 10% of person’s wealth– One of the biggest landowners– Sold positions and pardons– Gave political support in order to lead to economic
payback
Ex. of Church’s Power
• The Crusades– Muslims conquered holy sites of Middle East but
allowed Christians to worship there– 1071, Turks take Jerusalem and end toleration• Destroy part of Church of Holy Sepulcher
• 1095, Pope Urban II declares first crusade to help recapture Jerusalem– If you die on crusade, go
straight to heaven, all sins erased
• 1st crusade successful and retake Jerusalem
• 9 crusades in all, not very successful– Significance – increase in
knowledge and trade from the east
Disaster in Middle Ages
• The Black Death– Bubonic plague that swept through the world in
1300’s– Plague originated in central Asia and was carried
by Mongol traders along silk road– Most devastating in Europe
How the plague spread???
• Europeans didn’t bathe during middle ages
• Most clothes made of wool, person only had one or two pairs = not clean
• People were generally flea and lice ridden, dirt found everywhere
• Animals often lived in houses
How the plague spread???
Symptoms and death
• Formed large swollen sores in groin, armpits, neck that would ooze
• Would get dark blotches all over body as tissue under skin broke down
• Would get bad headaches, high fevers, aches• Died under a week of getting it• Killed so many that had body pickups• “X” painted on door if infected• Killed approx. 1/3 European population
Black Death’s Effects on Europe
• Alienation from the church– Either believed church did not do enough to help– Common belief was that the plague was sent to
punish people for sins– Persecution of Jews and other groups• Jews generally cleaner than most Euros due to
cleanliness laws, therefore less died
Class AnalysisHow did people in the 14th century make sense of the
Black Death?
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