Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

340

Medieval Europe 340-

Lords and LadIes feasting in castle banquet halls, peasants

working on the land, knights in armor—all these are associated

with a time in european history known as the medieval period

or the Middle ages. this was a time of great change in Western

europe between the 5th and 15th centuries. during the 5th century,

the roman empire fell, to be replaced by smaller kingdoms set up

by invading germanic tribes in Western europe. trade collapsed,

and people had to make their living from the land. gradually,

powerful landowners, or lords, emerged and the feudal system

developed. the early medieval period of europe is sometimes called

the dark ages because the learning of ancient greece and rome

almost disappeared. But the christian church gave leadership to the

people. trade gradually improved. By about the 13th century, the

Middle ages had reached their height. Feudalism governed society,

and monasteries (where monks lived) were the centers of learning.

the medieval times came to an end in the 15th century, when the

renaissance swept through europe.

The village fair was

held twice a year.

The manor

house was

the largest

house in the

village. It

was built

of stone.

Stables

Farmers

herding

sheep

through

the village.

Chopped wood served

for repairs to the house

and to make fire.

Plowman

working on

the land

around the

village.

FaIrs

great fairs were held every year in towns, such as

Winchester, england, which were on important

trade routes. Merchants traveled from all over

europe to sell their goods at these fairs.

Windmill to

grind grain

“Mystery”

religious plays

were popular

throughout

medieval

Europe.

Most

buildings

in the

village had

thatched

roofs.

Everyone

gave part of

their crops

to the village

church.

Traveling musicians

entertained people at

the fair. Sometimes there

were dancing bears.

VILLage LIFe

two or three huge open fields usually

surrounded a medieval village. the lord of

the manor owned the land, but the peasants

farmed it, in scattered narrow strips, and kept

most of what they grew. they worked hard all

year round and paid taxes to the lord and the

church in the form of work and goods.

US_340_Medieval_Europe_1.indd 340 22/01/16 11:11 am