CHAPTER 9 LESSON 2 Daily Life in Medieval Europe
Lesson 2 Daily Life in Medieval Europe
TERMS & NAMES
In this lesson, you will learn about daily life in medieval
Europe.
• manor the main part of a
noble’s land
• knight vassals, or lesser
nobles, who fought for lords
in return for land
• chivalry a code of honor
for knights to follow
• guild a group of people
with the same occupation
AS YOU READ
Use this chart to take notes about the main differences between
life on a manor and life in a town.
Middle Ages
Manor Life
Town Life
1.
2.
1.
2.
Copyright © by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company
The Manor System
(pages 299–300)
What role did the manor play?
During the Middle Ages, strong central
governments did not exist. Instead, Europe
consisted of small kingdoms and lands held by
high-ranking nobles. The main part of a noble’s
land was called a manor. The center of a manor
was the house where the lord and his family
lived. The manor house was often a castle.
Surrounding the manor was the lord’s estate.
Much of the estate consisted of farmland.
The serfs were an important part of the
lord’s land. They lived and farmed on the land.
This activity formed the economic basis of the
manor system. The serfs were considered part
of the manor’s property. They remained on the
land if a new lord bought it.
CHAPTER 9
BEFORE YOU READ
The land on the manor supplied the people
living there with most of the things they
needed. As a result, most economic activity
took place on the manor. This activity included
farming, woodworking, and wine making.
Manors became worlds unto themselves. Few
people ever left the property.
1.
What made manors worlds unto
themselves?
Chapter 9, Lesson 2
READING STUDY GUIDE
79
The Age of Chivalry
The Growth of Towns
(pages 300–301)
What was chivalry?
During the Middle Ages, conflict often broke
out between various lords. Many times, lords
settled a quarrel by attacking each other. Lords
relied on knights to do their fighting. Knights
were vassals, or lesser nobles, who fought for
lords in return for land.
Knights were more than just professional
fighters. They were expected to live by a code
of honor known as chivalry. According to
this code, knights were expected to be loyal to
their lord and brave in battle. They also had to
show a strong religious faith and a willingness
to defend Christianity. In addition, they were
expected to protect women and the weak and
fight against injustice.
(pages 301–302)
What was town life like?
By 1000, town life began to return to Europe.
Over time, a number of lords became
increasingly powerful. This brought greater
peace and stability to many regions. As
a result, merchants began to travel more
freely. They also began to trade more goods.
Wherever merchants settled, builders and
trades people gathered around them. Soon
towns began to form.
During the Middle Ages, most towns were
dirty, crowded, and busy. In the center of most
towns were a market square and a cathedral.
The streets were narrow and usually not paved.
After a rain, the streets often turned to mud.
Most of the houses were made out of wood.
They easily caught fire.
In towns, people with the same occupation
formed groups called guilds. Many guilds
were formed by trades people, such a
goldsmiths and bakers. Guilds made rules
that controlled the quantity and quality of
production. The guilds also made sure that
their members found employment.
What did the code of chivalry require of
knights?
READING STUDY GUIDE
2.
3.
80
What led to the growth of medieval towns?
Copyright © by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company
CHAPTER 9
READING STUDY GUIDE CONTINUED
Chapter 9, Lesson 2
READING STUDY GUIDE
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