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Critically examine the feudal economic system
Feudalism of medieval europe
Role of peasants in medieval europe
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Recommended: Critically examine the feudal economic system
The Feudal System Throughout the years many things have evolved rulers, kingdoms, castles, but one thing that stayed the same in the middle ages was the feudal system. The feudal system had four different levels. The king was at the top then nobles, knights, and last peasants. The top leader of the kingdom was the king, he couldn’t rule completely by himself so he divided the kingdom up among the Barons. In return to the king the Barons pledged their loyalty and soldiers to the king. Once the king died his first son would take the throne. If one certent family stayed ruling the kingdom for a long time it was called a dynasty. A dynasty is a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field. Below the king there was the nobles. They were acknowledged privileges …show more content…
Knights were men with lots of heavy armor who rode on horseback. There was three types of knights back then foot soldiers, archers, and knights. The knights had to be wealthy, only the richest nobles could become knights. The reason for them needing to be wealthy is because of how much everything cost, they needed armor and a very strong horse. Knights followed the code of Chivalry. Chivalry is a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct standards idealized by the Medieval knights such as bravery, courtesy, honor and great gallantry toward women. Last and pretty much least is the peasants, peasants were freemen and villeins. They lived on a manor in a village. They lived in a small thatch roofed, and one roomed house. The peasants in the castle had to provide meals and undertake menial tasks for their lord. Most of the peasants that worked in the castle were women, they were expected to cook, clean, and wait on the lord. Other peasants/ servants would help out with the horses and kitchen staff. the horses had to be fed, groomed and their stables kept
In the middle ages, knights were viewed as those who would represent the greatest level of chivalry, considering it was part of their code. King Arthur talked to a peasant in the beginning of the film who expressed her said unhappiness about the government and her views did not align with King Arthur so he disapproved. The peasant described medieval Europe as a horrid place to live. There was also a lack of education among the peasants because in the British empire at that time, there were many small kingdoms owned by lords, under one king. All the peasants really knew was their own kingdom and their king, they were not really educated on the number or where other kingdoms were. During this time period, the peasants were viewed as the bottom of the food chain, and in the feudal system they were actually at the bottom. This meant that they had no real say in the government or how it was ruled, so this interaction did not seem accurate for the time period nor did it cause any impact because those who were high in the feudal system liked the strong divide between classes. The way of life during the middle ages was strongly influenced by past traditions and morals that had been passed down from generation to generation. One of these old traditions included
KNIGHT At age seven a son of a noble family was sent to a nobleman or lord, often who was a relative. Here he was a page and taught how to ride a horse, and his manners. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a knight. As the squire to the knight he would take care of his horse, help him put the knights armor on and keep it clean. In turn he was taught how to use a bow, carve meat, and other knightly skills. The squire would have to go into battle with the knight to help him when he was wounded or unhorsed. If the squire was successful he would be knighted at the age of 21. When there wasn't a war going on knight would have to practice, practice, and practice some more. They would wrestle, fight with blunt swords, do acrobatics, and also do sports like javelin and putting which is throwing a heavy stone as far as you can.
Knights were an integral part of medieval society. They originally began with primitive warriors such as the Mongols who fought on horseback for added speed and power, but quickly advanced to chivalrous gentleman such as the Normans. Much has been written about medieval knights with the most famous being a series of legends about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Arthur and his knights were the ultimate example of what a perfect knight should have been. They were brave and skilful in battle, but merciful to their enemies once vanquished. They were courteous to ladies, and never ate or drank to excess.
Like the Pre-Columbian Civilizations, the Middle Age kingdoms of Europe had similar qualities such as the governmental structures. Spain, Portugal, England, and the rest of Europe used the Feudal System to sort out the social differences. The King and Queen were the head of state, followed by princesses, princes, bishops, and other church officials. Then came the merchants and artisans trailed by the lowly serfs and peasants who work the land for the system.
During the Medieval Times, knights hold high status and are seen as sovereign, yet their actions are contradicting. Knights stand for loyalty, justice, and chivalry; however, most are liars, cheaters, and foolish. Throughout medieval literature, authors create characters that contain both attributes and utilize literary elements to highlight this medieval crisis. Many Knights maintain a loyal and noble character because chivalry outlasts hypocrisy.
Unlike any other character that Chaucer has spoken of the knight is the only one that seems to actually be living up to his role in society. This question me on how truth full, every description is of each and every character. A knight code of conduct is to be polite to others, even those who are lower in ranking than he is. The knight is suppose to serve the king, fight for what he believes in, and be honorable.
Knights are one of the most mistaken figures of the medieval era due to fairytales and over exaggerated fiction novels. When medieval knights roamed the earth, it was known that they were only human and, like humans, had faults. These knights did not always live up to the standards designated by society. However, in The Canterbury Tales, the knight is revealed as a character that would now be considered a knight in shining armor, a perfect role model in how he acts and what he does. Modern day people see them as chivalrous figures instead of their actual role as mounted cavalry soldiers. As time passes, the idea of what a knight is changes from a simple cavalry soldier to a specific type of behavior.
Feudalism created alliances among peasants, landowners, and the nobility. Which provided the needs in life in a safer environment. Once centralized government was eliminated people were fearful of attack from invaders and from neighbors. Feudalism offered an objection of a castle because of military defense that was provided by a lords
class. Feudal system benefited King William since he got knights from the barons to protect him.
Feudalism came to as a government containing kings, vassals, knights, lords, lesser lords, and peasants. Feudalism is a loosely organized system of rule in which powerful local lords divided their lands among lesser lords in exchange for military services and pledged loyalty. It came to as a need for control over peasants and protection from the Muslims and the Magyars.
The Medieval period was a time of noblemen who fought for love, honor, and country under a code of chivalry. "Chivalry comes from the French word cheval, chivalry means someone who fights from horseback. The term also meant "knighthood".(Matthews, Platt, Thomas p.234-235)." In this period the nobility used war as a way to show their power and hold their status by being professional soldiers. There were also lots of soldiers from the lower classes who were led into battle under nobles. These soldiers fought for the nobleman to maintain their safety and land. The soldiers rode into battle on their horses in full armor with weapons drawn ready to defeat their enemies one by one. They laid siege castles for weeks and months at a time until the battle was won.
A large majority of people living in villages had to work in fields in order to grow food. These people who needed to work the fields were known as serfs or peasants. There was no mechanization of agriculture in the Middle Ages, “so a very high proportion of the population-probably around 90 percent-was needed to raise food” (Singman 65). Although many people lived and spent their lives in the villages, others spent their days in the manor house. “Daily life in the Middle ages was dictated by wealth, power and status and the feudal system” (Lords and Ladies). The manor was a very organized area, with roads connecting everything, so if someone needed to get from the manor house to the fields, they could easily without getting lost (Singman 67). Even though the villages mainly housed serfs and peasants, it was very organized. A typical village was located “in the center of an open-field was the living space of the inhabitants, consisting of a cluster of homes, often gathered around a village green or a dirt street, and in many cases with a church and manor house in the same area” (67). In conclusion, daily life was always filled with hard work, no matter what social group someone was
My family history is one volume of American History that began eighteen years after the declaration of independence. Ironically, freedom did not come to my family until hundreds of years later. It’s a story that touches all periods of America’s History. Slavery, sacrifice and determination are the themes of the Wilson and Rigsby history. My family did not immigrate to America for a better life. They did not consider America as the home of promise. Upon their arrival, they did not bend to kiss the ground or thank God for leading them to this great land. No, my family history in America began in bondage. However, the bondage was only physical. The spirit and mind was always free. It is true you cannot tell a book by its cover. My cover is Markesa Brianna Rigsby, however the chapters within my book began long before the name. My legacy is from an African slave to a martyr for freedom to a determined spirit. Though there were many events that shape my history, these are considered the mold. To understand me one must understand my legacy. They are the stories of an American slave, martyr and a broken dream.
In contrast in Germany, kings seem unable to keep a reign on their crown as well as their nobles and other officials. ("HISTORY OF FEUDALISM." HISTORY OF FEUDALISM. ) The structure seems to fall over due to the nobility’s places as second in the Feudalism structure. But in some cases the nobility actually had more money and power than the king himself. This and as well as the other problems discussed would eventually lead to taxing and ruling from a central place, slowly becoming the norm. But, although the system seems to fall apart its customs seem to be made use to other places.
Do you remember as a kid you dressing up as a knight, imagining saving someone from a castle from a dragon? Haven’t you always been fascinated by the image of the "Knight in shining armor?" Who hasn't wondered what it was really like to live the life of a knight? Sadly real knights from the Middle Ages aren’t about rescuing people from dragons. This guide will teach you all about how to be a successful knight in European history, the Middle Ages, or Medieval period, lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. A knight was a male warrior during Medieval Times that served a lord under the code of chivalry, much like samurai with their code of bushido. This code made knights follow a set a rules, and described qualities they should possess. (Hopkins, Knights) For example he is to be fearless and valiant while having qualities such as being loyal, generous, and polite. Women couldn’t become knights because the only purpose they had at that time was: to marry well, be loyal to their husband, and to have sons. (Edge, Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight) stated that