Module 2: "Middle Ages," Excerpts 1 & 2

The medieval period, known as the Middle Ages, covers nearly 1,000 years of European history. According to some historians, the era began in A.D. 476 when a German chieftain overthrew the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

Although Europe was politically divided in the Middle Ages, daily life did not vary greatly from one realm to the next.

Medieval land holdings ranged from small estates called manors to huge fiefs as big as small countries.

The lord of a large fief, such as a baron, might give individual manors to his knights, in exchange for their service. Those knights thus became lords of their own small manors. But they still owed allegiance to the baron.

Upper-class girls were married off early, as a way for powerful families to form alliances and build their wealth.

Most of the people on a feudal manor were peasants who spent their lives working in the fields.

A great many of the peasants were serfs—that is, they were not free.

Each lord collected a toll, for “protection,” from all merchants who came into his neighborhood.

Each lord collected a toll, for “protection,” from all merchants who came into his neighborhood.

Most townspeople were merchants and artisans.

Some merchants were little more than peddlers carrying their packs from village to village.

The right to do business in a town was a guarded privilege.

Guild members all charged the same prices for the same quality work, and they limited the number of people permitted to follow a particular occupation.

Monks were men who lived together in a house called a monastery.