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390 History

Medieval Europe

Between 1000 and 1500 CE, a lively society developed in

Europe. Although most people still worked on the land,

this was also the age of. CASTLES, cathedrals, and

growing towns. Gradually, the traders and craftsmen of

the towns began to have more influence on government.

CASTLES

A castle is a huge, fortified building, or set

of buildings. The first castles, built around

900, were made up of a wooden fortress on

top of an earth mound. Later, castles built

of stone had towers, battlements, moats,

and strong defensive walls. They also

became prestigious homes.

WHAT WAS FEUDALISM?

Feudalism was the system of ownership of land in

Medieval Europe from the 9th century. In theory the

king was the owner of all land, but he granted most of

it to his nobles who provided armed knights. The nobles

too granted some land to lesser nobles and knights who

also swore an oath of loyalty to their feudal overlord.

WERE CASTLES ONLY USED IN WARTIME?

The first castles were built to shelter nobles,

. KNIGHTS, and soldiers in a war. After around
1200, in times of peace, each castle had its own
nobleman and his family living in it. Comfortable
private rooms were added for important guests.

HOW DID GUNPOWDER AFFECT CASTLES?

From around 1300, gunpowder for firing cannons

began to affect warfare in Europe. Cannon balls could

smash through stone walls, making castles less useful

as safe strongholds. Castles continued to be built, but

for show. They were intended as impressive residences

1 ROCHESTER CASTLE, ENGLAND rather than indestructible fortresses.

The main building of a castle was

its keep (central tower). This one

was built around 1130. Its stone

walls would not burn, and were

very hard to knock down.

1 MEDIEVAL CHESS PIECES

These chess pieces, made in Scandinavia around 1200, show the most

important people in a medieval kingdom (from left to right): a queen,

king, bishop (Church leader), and knight (who was always a nobleman).

TILLING AND SOWING 3

This medieval painting shows an October scene outside Paris. Peasants

are tilling the ground and sowing seed against the background of the

French king’s castle. The scarecrow is dressed as an archer.

Medieval queens were

the mothers, sisters, and

daughters of kings

Bishops were the local

lords of the Church

WHAT DID MEDIEVAL PEOPLE BELIEVE?

Medieval Europeans believed that God had made the

world, and ruled it through his Church and the king.

Few people, apart from priests and monks, could read

and write. Ordinary

people learned the stories

of the Bible and the

saints from preachers,

and the pictures painted

in their churches.

medieval

Europe