If the king ever needed military help, the nobleman's army would loyally support him, and so the king's lands were protected (Briquebec 36). The system of life that slowly developed is called feudalism (Gies 128-129). When the nobles needed help protecting his fief, he hired a knight for military services, and paid the knight with a smaller estate called a manor (Hartman 27). This gradual development of a system of land for military service was, as Hartman says, "useful in a time of disorder and danger and soon spread all over Europe" (28).
By the 800's, the power of the king was only a ruler in name, as the fief-holders owned and ran most of the land (Rowling 35). It was the fief-holder's duty to maintain his fief in ways of economy and law (Gies 141). As Gies states, "A "tenant-in-chief" like the Earl of Warenne, lord of scores of villages in a dozen counties, collected all kinds of rents and services at first- and second-hand without ever setting eyes on most of his sixty-five knight-tenants, hundreds of freeholders, and thousands of bondmen" (141). Great landowners constantly fought neighboring landowners in an attempt to gain more powers, and the fief-holders built elaborate castles to protect themselves and their families from attack (Rowling 34-35). .
While the warring fief-holders and nobility fought for power, the remaining commoners had little to no political power, and were forced to do the physical work (Gies 128). As Hartman says, "The nobles did no useful work. They did not cultivate the fields, and they made nothing that they needed. They spent their time, as we have seen, in fighting, feasting, jousting, and in other ways considered fitting the life of a gentleman" (87). On the manors, the peasants were forced to farm the miles of fields that surrounded the luxurious castles of the rich-blooded (Hartman 87). The peasants received only a small amount of farmland on which to grow food for their families and keep whatever farm animals they could afford, and for this they worked and paid taxes and gave the surplus farmed goods to their superior (Briquebec 36).
In the Middle Ages however, the Church was a very authoritative section of the community. ... " ("Church and the Middle Ages"). ... The Middle Ages was the period of time in history in which the church had the most power. ... Peasants were the lowest social class during the Middle Ages. ... Being a peasant during the Middle Ages was a struggle; life was hard and unfair at times. ...
In what ways were the Early Middle Ages the "Dark Ages" and in what ways were they not? The Early Middle Ages have been named the "Dark Ages" because life was dangerously insecure for most people. ... The ways Early Middle Ages were not the "Dark Ages" were: The collapse of the Roman Empire caused Christianity to become the standard- bearer of Western civilization. ... How does it depart from the Middle Ages and begin the modern period of Western Civilization? ... The Renaissance departed from the Middle ages by representing a change in focus and emphasis from the Middle Ages, with e...
Middle Ages The idea that the Middle Ages were "dark ages" has been exaggerated a lot. ... There are the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages. ... The Early Middle Ages were probably the time that most fits the term Dark Ages, even though even they weren't all bad. ... The Middle Ages also brought religious reform. ... One very important accomplishment of the High Middle Ages was universities. ...
Mason Chapters 6,7 #1502 MWF 11-11:50 Middle Ages The idea that the Middle Ages were "dark ages" has been exaggerated a lot. ... There are the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages. ... The Early Middle Ages were probably the time that most fits the term Dark Ages, even though even they weren't all bad. ... The Middle Ages also brought religious reform. ... One very important accomplishment of the High Middle Ages was universities. ...
The Middle Ages began around the year A.D. 450. This time period was known for feudal disputes, religious crusade, and barbaric wars, but there was also a development of music in the Middle Ages. ... In the Middle Ages most of the music was vocal. ... When the Middle ages turned into the Renaissance there was a new form of music called ars nova, or "new art". ... The Middle Ages ended around the year A.D. 1450. ...
Art, Creativity, and Humanism sprouted up to give life back to what was lost during The Middle Ages. ... During the Middle Ages, the majority of paintings, if not all, were purely centered around themes relating to God and the Church. ... In the Middle Ages, paintings were usually unrealistically created, but still keeping Christ as the main subject. ... This just goes to show how different Renaissance was from the Middle Ages. ... Aside from art, literature is also one of the major changes between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. ...
This period is commonly referred to as the Middle Ages. ... The Middle Ages are sometimes referred to as the Dark ages, and rightfully so... In addition, the Middle Ages are also referred to as Age of Faith. ... Another label for the Middle Ages can be the Golden Age of Europe. ... The three labels that describe the Middle Ages: Age of Faith, Dark Ages, and Golden Age of Europe " show the many views and complexities of the Middle Ages. ...
The Middle Ages were a difficult time for Europe. ... The Middle Ages was also labeled as the Dark Ages. ... This shows that the Middle Ages should be known as the Dark Ages. ... This also shows that the Middle Ages should be known as the Dark Ages. The Middles Ages should be known as the Dark Ages. ...
