Social System: Life In The Middle Ages

One economic system used in Europe during the Middle ages was manorialism, and one system used during the Industrial Revolution was capitalism. Manorialism was used back when there were kings and peasants, and rendered the peasants dependant on the king's land. Capitalism is when the economy is controlled by private businesses, and not the state or

The serfs would work on large manors or on smaller villages guarded by knights and would provide food for the rest of the hierarchy. This was a mutual respect system in which land and protection was given down the hierarchy and goods and services such as food and tax money was given up. During the middle ages there were many threats from barbarian tribes most notably the vikings and some of the Germanic tribes that prompted the creation of feudal systems and the manor. While this protected the serfs and other people who other wise would not be able to defend themselves, this also gave power the nobility and allowed them to heavily tax the lower class. In addition to corruption, this gave the upper class and the nobility far more control over the people of the kingdoms and could have also caused many of the problems during the middle ages. Feudalism only really worked if the respect and service went both ways which only worked if the nobility respected the serfs and vise versa. As a result of this, feudal and manor systems shaped Western European society because the gave protection to the lower class while giving more power and control to the upper

The Catholic Church used this concept to pull people in and become more knowledgeable about the bible as well as reinforcing tradition. Thoughts of humans weren’t based on scientific concepts, but on consulting the higher authority. It did add some knowledge to the society, but it slowed the cultural growth and progress of Europe.

During the middle ages the lack of protection and a stable government after the Fall of Rome created the need for a new political system. Feudalism was the political system that emerged and shaped the lives of people socially and politically. Manors were small communities that were made up of a castle, church, village, and land for farming. The structured society provided a place and responsibility for everyone. The feudal obligations showed that in exchange for one thing they would be provided with something else. Serfs and peasants would work and produce goods for the rest of the manor and in return had their land and promised protection. The vassals would need to obtain land from the Lord and in return would provide the Lord with military service, loyalty, and ransom if asked for (Doc. 4). To make clear the vassal’s specific allegiance to their lord whom they owed in for exchange for their fief they would take the Homage Oath (Doc. 2). This interdependent system required everyone to do their part and it created social classes that they were born into. Their daily lives were centered on the manor and that was how it stayed until towns began to

During the Middle Ages social class much different than modern day. In a feudal society “nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king,” (Doc. 1). The nobles, in return, would give the lord loyalty and military services (Doc. 1). As peasants or serfs worked for nobles and knights they received protection and a portion of the harvest to feed their families (Doc. 1).

The Middle Ages, or Dark Ages, of the 15th century, established a policy regarding the practice of agriculture that later became known as feudalism. The monarchy bestowed vast tracts of land and an ennobling title to individuals who were tasked with keeping a functioning economy in their lands and maintaining a private militia for the protection of the realm and fiefdom they owned. These aristocrats allocated parcels of land to the serfs, or peasants, in exchange for complete rustic servitude and the privilege being allowed to live on that lord's land. Any crops or animals that were cultivated belonged to the realm and peasants were only permitted to keep a meager portion of their efforts. This archaic practice, established during the era

The peasants of the middle ages were farmers, servants, and carpenters. They would work all jobs to provide for their family. According to Dianne Zarlengo “Their class formed the economic back bone for the society” (10). Peasants were not able to choose the life they wanted to live. “Even though the burdened peasant class largely accepted their harsh life as a way to cleanse their souls and help pave the way to eternal salvation, peasants revolted occasionally”

During the Middle Ages a peasant’s life was, indeed, very rough, there were anywhere from ten to sixty families living in a single village; they lived in rough huts on dirt floors, with no chimneys, or windows. Usually one end of the hut was given over to storing livestock. Furnishings were quite sparse; three legged stools, a trestle table, beds softened with straw or leaves and placed on the floor; the peasant diet was mainly porridge, cheese, black bread, and a few homegrown vegetables. Peasants had a hard life, yet they did not work on Sundays, and they could travel to nearby fairs and markets. The basic diet of a lord consisted of meat, fish, pastries, cabbage, turnips, onions, carrots, beans, and peas, as well as fresh bread, cheese, and fruit. This is by no means equivalent to the meals the peasants ate, a lord might even feast on boar, swan, or peacock as well.

The high medieval society of Europe was organized into three main social groups: the clergy, nobles, and peasants, but there was still a group consisting of townspeople and Jews that were excluded from society. Higher-ups, being the nobles and clergy, believed that ultimate societal leadership belonged to the “prayers” and “fighters” and that they were superior to the “workers”. Each social group had their own special role in European high medieval society.

In the middle ages there were two main groups peasants, and nobles. Peasants made up 90% of the population and took up most of the jobs from farmers and blacksmiths, to tavern owners. Peasants had very harsh lives with where they lived, what they ate, and their childhood.

How do the personal lives/experiences of historians/authors affect their vision of the medieval world? Please remember to use specific examples from our readings.

Life during the middle ages (1066-1485) was dictated by how much money you had. Were you a noble? Or were you a peasant. Your quality of life was in direct proportion to your status. Lords of the Noble class ruled territories, also known as villages. These villages mainly consisted of one room houses, with maybe a church and a blacksmith shop. Peasants or serfs lived in these villages and worked under said Lord. Daily life was all about survival. The days were spent planting and growing food, harvesting the crop, sewing clothes, and making any supplies that were needed to survive. Trading between different villages was something that was only done as a last resort. People in each village worked together to make their own village

The peasants worked the land for the lords. The lords owned the land, and some were even knights. Knights were honored people who served the king and fought as army generals. Their armor was the best there was. The nobles served in the king’s court.

The monarch in medieval times had a busy schedule he went to church meetings and figure out laws, hunting and lead his military. The peasants would wake up with the reeve (manor supervisor), assigning them tasks for the day (men). Women stayed at home, tending to the chores (e.g. milking cows, cooking, washing, feeding livestock, weeding the garden, or getting water from the well). Peasant children worked and helped their mothers and couldn’t go to school therefore they were not educated. It was unfair how kings and peasants didn't have equal jobs because the peasants had hard duties to accomplish and severe consequences were executed if they refused to do them. The king need to make sure everything was in order and that everyone he trusted with land was loyal. They both had a short amount of free time. The daily tasks of the peasants and kings were difficult as they didn't have a break, were

The Social, Economic, and Political Factors That Helped Bring About The End of the Middle Ages