Medieval Times
Timeline
When did the Medieval Period begin?
B.C. Before Christ
Birth of Christ
A.D. After Death
The medieval period began after the death of
Christ, at approximately 500 A.D.
The medieval period began after the fall of the
Roman Empire.
Medieval Times
Medieval comes from Latin words meaning
“middle ages”
Medieval refers to the Middle Ages in Europe.
For hundreds of years, the Romans
ruled most of Europe.
The Roman Empire
This is a map of Europe that shows how large the Roman Empire was.
Which modern European countries are in the area that used to make up the
Roman Empire?
Modern Europe
This is a map of what
Europe looks like today.
What countries do you
recognize?
Europe in Medieval Times
This is a map
of Europe in
Medieval Times.
With the Roman
Empire gone,
Europe was divided
into hundreds of
small states, each
with its own ruler.
Europe in Medieval Times
Each ruler, or King, tried to protect their land, and tried to
take over land from others.
Outlaws (Robin Hood) lurked in great forests that covered the
land, like the famous Sherwood Forest.
In order to protect the land (fief) the Kings would give pieces
of land to others (vassals). This system was called
“The Feudal System”
The Feudal System
The Feudal System was the type of
“government” during Medieval
Times.
The King owned land (called a fief).
He gave parts of his land to a Lord,
who promised to serve the King by
fighting any intruders.
The Lord would sometimes give parts
of his land to a lesser lord (called a
vassal) who promised to serve the lord
in time of war.
The Manor System
A manor was a large
estate or property out
in the country that was
owned by a baron or
lord.
A Manor included the
lord’s large manor house,
a church, a mill,
farmlands that were
rented out to peasants
and often a small village.
This system was called the
‘manor system’
The Magna Carta
Each King developed his or her own laws for the
people who lived in their manor.
In 1215 A.D., King John developed the Magna
Carta (Great Charter).
It was a list of laws that all people, even the Kings
had to follow.
It guaranteed human rights for all people.
Do you know what our charter is called in Canada?
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Medieval Social Structure
The Royal Class
The Clergy (Church & Monastery)
The Law Keepers
The Serfs (Peasants)
The Royal Class
King and Queen
Prince and Princess
Lord and Lady
The Clergy
• Bishop
• Friar / Monk
• Baron
• Nun
The Law Keepers
Knights
Squires
Town Crier
The Serfs
The Castle Workers
The Ground Workers
*Cook
*Maid
*Pastry Chef
*Peddler
*Storekeeper
*Tailor
*Butcher
*Merchant
*Blacksmith
*Shepherd
*Minstrel
*Farmer
*Peddler
Medieval Peasants
Males
Females
They worked the land by:
The helped work the land too.
planting
weeding
harvesting
binding hay
thatching
sheep shearing
They also cooked, cleaned,
washed clothes, spun, took care
of the animals, and cared for the
children.
They also sold items they made,
like butter and cheese.
Medieval Peasants
Children
Children started
work at the age of
four, and learning at
the age of seven.
Medieval Lords &Ladies
Lady
Lords
*defended manor against attack
*supervised activities and staff of the
*supervised management of land and
buttery
buildings
*bought special items (wine, salt, spices
train
*made guests welcome
or the king
instruments
*acted as judge in manorial system
kitchen, bake house, brew house, and
mill, care of animals, and repairs to
*kept household accounts
*trained for battle and helped others
and silks)
*fought for or paid dues to his overlord
*did embroidery and played musical
*attended court of overlord or king
*tended to sick servants and family
members
*took over the lord’s job when he was at
court or war
Medieval Knights
Knights
Began training at the age of seven
as a page.
At fourteen, he became a squire
and looked after a knight’s horses
and armour
At twenty-one a squire became a knight in a
dubbing ceremony. The squire took an oath to
follow the code of chivalry which meant he
would respect women, protect the weak, be
brave and honourable and protect the church.
Medieval Clergy
Priests, Nuns, Monks, Bishops, Pope
-Clergy educated people
-They told people how to live good lives
-They helped take care of the sick, and looked after travelers
-They copied books by hand and were the only people who knew how
to read and write.
-In return, the church asked each household to pay a tithe (one-tenth
of what they produced)
Let’s compare Medieval Life to Modern Life
Medieval Times
Homes
Sanitation
Travel
Food
occupations
Modern Day