Medieval Period

Key Concepts

• Feudalism
• The Crusades
• The Black Death

Feudalism

Feudalism was a social, economic, and political system that developed in medieval Europe. It was based on a hierarchical structure where landowners (lords) granted land to lesser nobles (vassals) in exchange for military service and loyalty. The peasants, or serfs, worked the land and provided additional services to the lords. This system created a stable but rigid social order.

For example, in France, the relationship between a lord and his vassals was formalized through a ceremony called "homage and fealty," where the vassal pledged loyalty to the lord.

The Crusades

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by European Christians between the 11th and 15th centuries. They were primarily aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control. The Crusades had significant political, economic, and cultural impacts on Europe and the Middle East. They also facilitated the exchange of ideas, goods, and technologies between the East and West.

For instance, the First Crusade (1096-1099) resulted in the capture of Jerusalem and the establishment of the Crusader states in the Levant.

The Black Death

The Black Death, also known as the Plague, was a devastating pandemic that struck Europe in the mid-14th century. It is estimated to have killed between one-third and one-half of Europe's population. The disease spread rapidly through fleas carried by rats, leading to widespread social and economic upheaval. The Black Death had long-lasting effects on European society, including changes in labor laws and the decline of feudalism.

For example, the plague led to the Great Famine of 1315-1317, which weakened the population and made them more susceptible to the disease when it arrived in 1347.

Examples and Analogies

Think of Feudalism as a "pyramid" of power, where each level depends on the one above it for protection and sustenance. The lord is at the top, the vassals are in the middle, and the serfs are at the base, supporting the entire structure.

The Crusades can be compared to a "bridge" between two cultures. While the primary purpose was religious, the interactions between Europeans and Middle Easterners during the Crusades facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies, bridging the gap between East and West.

The Black Death is like a "wildfire" that swept through medieval Europe. Just as a wildfire can devastate an entire forest, the plague decimated the population, leaving a landscape of social and economic change in its wake.