Middle Ages

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 Middle Ages Facts

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.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

★ The Middle Ages refers to a time in European history from

400-1500 AD. It occurred between the fall of the Roman Empire
and the Renaissance.
★ Historians usually divide the Middle Ages into three smaller
periods called the Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and
the Late Middle Ages.

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 Middle Ages Facts
★ During the Renaissance, scholars and thinkers began to call
the preceding era as the Middle Ages as it separated the
culture of ancient Rome and Greece, and the Renaissance.
Some called the early period the Dark Ages when Europe was
overrun by the Byzantines and Arabs.
MEDIEVAL PERIOD AND INSTITUTIONS
★ During the Medieval period, the Catholic Church became the
most dominant and powerful institution in Europe influencing
the monarchs. One of the examples was when Pope Leo III
named Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 CE.
Moreover, it was the Catholic Church that maneuvered military
expeditions to Jerusalem, commonly known as the Crusades,
during the late 11th century.
★ In 1095, Pope Urban II called every Christian in Europe to expel
the Muslims (infidels) from the Holy Land. The on and off
crusades lasted until the end of the 15th century which brought
European culture to Jerusalem and Muslim culture to Europe.
★ The Middle Ages was defined
by a Feudal system in much of
Europe. This system
consisted of kings, lords,
knights, vassals, and
peasants. The people who
were part of the church played
an important part too. When a
person was born into a certain
group, they rarely moved to
another level.
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 Middle Ages Facts
★ During the Middle Ages, feudal society worked as the king
granted vast lands called fiefs to noblemen and bishops. These
landowners needed peasants to plant and harvest their lands.
In exchange, peasants were allowed to live on the land with
protection from local lords in case of invasion.
★ Manors were composed of large castles surrounded by small
villages and a local church. During this period, about 90% of the
population worked on lands as peasants or serfs. Lords and
Barons swore their oath of fealty to the king.
★ Groups of craftsmen called guilds also emerged during this
period. Each guild had specialties and was able to move up the
social ladder through hard work. Some examples were guild for
weavers, dyers, armorers, painters, masons, bookkeepers,
bakers, and candlemakers. They had well defined positions
including apprentices, journeyman, and masters. Despite being
skilled workers during this period, women were not allowed to
join or form their own guild.

★ Much of the local

economy was
influenced by guild of
merchants as they
controlled the flow of
trade.
★ Before a journeyman
could be a master, he
needed to produce a
masterpiece to be
The tailors of London and their approved by the guild
guild, c.1300-1500. masters.
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 Middle Ages Facts
MAJOR EVENTS

★ Aside from the Crusades, the Black Death that spread

throughout Europe between 1347 and 1350 caused a huge
decline in population. The Bubonic plague was caused by fleas
on rats which killed at least one third of people in Europe. There
were instances that small villages and towns were wiped out
completely by the plague.
★ From 1337 to 1453, an intermittent series of battles known as
the Hundred Years War was fought between England and
France. The conflict began when King Edward III of England
claimed that he was the rightful monarch of France, while other
reasons included disputes on trade, land control, and alliances.
★ In 1215, King John of England, brother of Richard the Lionheart
forcibly signed the Magna Carta which stated that the king was
not above the law of the land. By signing the document, the
King of England was obliged to run a fair government and
protect people’s rights.
★ In 1066, Edward the Confessor, King of England died without
any heir. As a result, three kings claimed the throne including
King Harald Hardrada of Norway, Earl Harold Godwinson of
England, and Duke William of Normandy. The dispute ended
with the Battle of Hastings which killed King Harold and
crowned William as the new king.
★ From 718 to 1492, Christian Kingdoms in Europe and Muslim
Moors fought a series of wars for the control of the Iberian
Peninsula. The reconquista only ended in 1492 after King
Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile retook
Grenada from the Moors.

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 Middle Ages Facts
MEDIEVAL CULTURE

★ A great manifestation of the Church during the Middle Ages

was seen through art and architecture. Ecclesiastical structures
including cathedrals and monasteries were built in
Romanesque style (13th to 15th century) with rounded masonry
arches and barrel vaults.
Image of church in Europe during
the Medieval period
★ By 1200, Gothic style in
architecture was seen in
cathedrals like the Abbey
Church of Saint-Denis in France
characterized by huge
stained-glass windows and
pointed vaults and arches. In
addition to building structures,
religious frescoes and mosaics
dominated church interiors.
★ Most forms of art during this period was influenced by the
Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic styles. Themes in
sculpture, painting, metal work, engraving, manuscripts, and
windows often depicted Catholic subjects and figures. Artists
included Donatello, Giotto, Lorenzetti, and di Giuseppe.
★ Moreover, literature was often written by monks and clerics with
themes about god and in a form of hymns and songs. Among the
most famous works during this period include Beowulf, The
Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy, The Decameron, and
Caedmon’s Hymn.

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Name: ________________________________

The Feudal System

Rural life during the Middle Ages was ruled by feudalism.
Using the given roles, can you identify each class? In
addition, provide pictures to classify each.

An institution that
watch over
everything.

They own vast

lands and grant
them to those
immediately below
them.

They supply the

armies to those
above them.

Protector of those
above and below
them.

They plant and

harvest the land of
those above them.

MIDDLE AGES WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM

 The Feudal System
ANSWER KEY

An institution that
watch over
everything.

They own vast

CHURCH
lands and grant
them to those
immediately below
them.
KINGS
They supply the
armies to those
above them.

NOBLES

Protector of those
above and below
them.

KNIGHTS / VASSALS
They plant and
harvest the land of
those above them.
PEASANTS
MIDDLE AGES WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM
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