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Notities voor M: {compleet}, >miss eve chkn<

1. Maurits: Early Middle Ages/Dark Ages ({Klaar})

2. Maurits: High Middle Ages (>Klaar<)

3. Maurits: Late Middle Ages (>Klaar<)

4. Maurits: Theocentrism ({Klaar})

5. Maurits: feudalism (>Klaar<)

6. Maurits: Anglo-Saxons (>Klaar<)

7. Maurits: Symbolic numbers (>Klaar<)

8. Maurits: Printing press ({Klaar})

9. Maurits: Clergy (>Klaar<)

10. Maurits: Loyalty ({Klaar})

11. Maurits: Chivalric romance ({Klaar})

12. Maurits: Honour ({Klaar})

13. Maurits: Old English ({Klaar})

14. Fleur:?

15. Duco:?

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Elena: vroege middeleeuwen (Mee bezig)

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The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD marked the beginning of the Early Middle Ages. With the sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth in 410 AD, the empire’s political and cultural cohesion disintegrated.

In the 5th–8th Century Germanic tribes migrated and settled in formerly Roman territories.

Europe entered a chaotic period marked by shifting power structures. Germanic tribes retained elements of their own customs while gradually adopting Christianity.

This basically provided the only unifying force during this era.

In places like Italy and Germany, political unity was rare and only lasted during times like Charlemagne's rule in the 9th century.

Following Rome’s collapse, urban centers and trade routes suffered. Agricultural productivity declined, infrastructure decayed, and artistic and scholarly activities diminished significantly.

The "Age of Migrations," saw the movement of Germanic tribes and non-Germanic groups like the Huns across Europe. These migrations reshaped the continent’s cultural and political landscape.

Viking raids, beginning in 793 with the attack on Lindisfarne, had a profound impact on Europe. Scandinavian settlers interacted with local populations, influencing art, trade, and governance.

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Agricultural advancements lead to better diets, population growth, and urbanization. More economic power shifted to the west. Towns flourished with trade and a growing merchant class.

The Gothic style emerges, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and soaring cathedrals.

Intellectual life thrives under the Church; St. Thomas Aquinas exemplifies Scholastic philosophy.

Religious campaigns aim to recover the Holy Land, blending faith and adventure.

Secular education rises, paving the way for the Renaissance.

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The Norman Conquest: William the Conqueror defeats the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, introducing the feudal system in England.

In the 12th century the Romanesque architecture flourishes and robust churches with round arches are built, reflecting Norman influences.

Crusades started in 1095: Large-scale military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land, blending religious devotion and (bloody) adventures.

In King John signs (was basically forced) the Magna Carta, granting privileges to nobles and limiting royal power.

The Hundred Years’ War: Prolonged conflict between England and France over claims to the French crown. It concludes with England retaining only Calais.

The Black Death devastates Europe, killing millions. This leads to labor shortages, economic decline, and increased demands for peasant rights. The Black Death devastates Europe, killing millions. This leads to labor shortages, economic decline, and increased demands for peasant rights.

Wars of the Roses: A series of internal conflicts between the Houses of Lancaster and York over the English throne. It ends with the rise of the Tudor dynasty in 1485.

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Feudalism (9th century to 12th century) 

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Feudalism (9th century to 12th century) 

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Feudalism was a hierarchical social, economic, and political system based on the exchange of land for loyalty and service. Lords granted land to knights in return for military service, while peasants worked the land in exchange for protection.

Feudalism began to take shape in the Early Middle Ages as centralized Roman governance collapsed (5th century) and became the dominant system in Europe during the High and Late Middle Ages. In England, it was solidified after the Norman Conquest of 1066. William the Conqueror rewarded land to Norman nobles

Feudal structures began to break down in the 12th century with the rise of towns, trade, and merchant classes. The Black Death in the 14th century further undermined the system by causing labor shortages and increasing peasants bargaining power

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Illustration

An illustration depicting the strict hierarchical structure of the societies of Western Europe in the Middle Ages (c.10th-13th century) based on a tenement-based distribution of the land into units or "fiefs." During a period commonly known as Feudalism, the Crown owned all of the Realm (except the Church's possessions) and portioned it out to the nobles in exchange for military service or rent. Knights were, in turn, tenants of the nobles. The lowest class - the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to work the land and give labor, homage, and a share of the produce to their lord in exchange for protection.

About the Author

Simeon is a freelance visual designer with a deep interest in the human side of history. He believes that every image should be an interaction, a commentary, and a narrative, and every map should lead on an exciting journey of exploration and discovery.

License & Copyright

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2022, March 16). The Feudal Society in Medieval Europe. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15424/the-feudal-society-in-medieval-europe/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Feudal Society in Medieval Europe." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 16, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15424/the-feudal-society-in-medieval-europe/.

MLA Style

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An illustration depicting the strict hierarchical structure of the societies of Western Europe in the Middle Ages (c.10th-13th century) based on a tenement-based distribution of the land into units...

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Nadat het West-Romeinse Rijk verdwenen was en verschillende Germaanse stammen bezig waren om gebied te veroveren leefden de meeste mensen in angst. Het Romeinse leger kon de gebieden niet meer veilig houden en als er geen oorlog werd gevoerd dan waren er wel struikrovers waar je angst voor moest hebben.

Dus hoe zorgden mensen ervoor dat ze veilig konden zijn?Dat deden ze door bij een landheer, iemand van adel die een hof (groot huis, met molen en kerk) en land tot zijn beschikking had te gaan wonen. Maar gratis was dit natuurlijk niet.

Omdat de meeste mensen zelf geen grond in bezit hadden moesten ze een stuk grond pachten van de heer. In ruil daarvoor moesten de boeren een deel van de opbrengst van hun land afstaan aan de heer. Maar ook moesten ze klussen voor de heer doen zoals het kappen van bomen of maken van een hek. Dus als boer had je het niet makkelijk. Dat systeem dat boeren op het land van de heer woonden en werkten en de heer veel zeggenschap had over deze boeren noem je het feodale stelsel. Het enige wat de boer ervoor terugkreeg was bescherming van de heer.

Het was hard werken en als kind van een boerengezin ging je ook niet naar school maar werkte je mee. Het kon gebeuren dat je als slimme boerenzoon opviel en dat de katholieke kerk je wilde opleiden tot priester, maar dat kwam niet vaak voor. De meeste mensen waren boer en konden niet lezen en schrijven.

Het christendom werd in de Vroege Middeleeuwen steeds meer verspreid. Germaanse koningen die bekeerden zich en dwongen hun volkeren om zich ook te bekeren en als ze gebied veroverden dan werden die mensen ook weer gedwongen om zich te bekeren. Zo ging het wel snel en aan het einde van de Vroege Middeleeuwen was nagenoeg iedereen wel christelijk in West-Europa.

Wel goed om te vermelden is, dat er in die tijd maar een christelijke kerk was namelijk de Katholieke Kerk. De katholieke kerk heeft een hele sterke hiërarchie, de belangrijkste figuur is de paus, daarna komt de aartsbisschop, bisschop etc. tot aan de priester in de kerk. Iedereen die voor de kerk werkte behoorde tot de geestelijkheid. Dat was in de standenmaatschappij de belangrijkste stand, de 2e stand was de adel. De rest van de bevolking behoorde tot de 3e stand en had veel minder rechten dan de 1e en 2e stand.

Gelukkig voor de 1e en 2e stand was iedereen veel gehoorzamer in de Vroege Middeleeuwen dan nu. Boeren accepteerden hun plek. Dus als je als boerendochter geboren werd dan ging je als boerin dood. Dat was het lot en zo had god het bedacht. Geen ingewikkelde ideeën over zelfontplooiing en individualisme, mensen gehoorzaamden veel meer. Wel jammer dat de priester in de kerk grote invloed had op de mensen omdat ze zelf niet zo kritisch waren en niet konden lezen en schrijven.

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The Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians began migrating to Britain in the 5th century, partly due to flooding in their homelands and the power vacuum left by the Romans. Initially raiders, they gradually became settlers, forming new kingdoms.

Anglo-Saxon society was structured around loyalty to kings. Warriors (thegns) were rewarded with land and valuables, while most people were farmers. Pagan practices gave way to Christianity from the 6th century onwards, with the Church shaping cultural and intellectual life.

The era saw the production of Old English literature, including Beowulf, The Ruin, and chronicles like The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

The Anglo-Saxon era ended with the Battle of Hastings (1066), where William the Conqueror defeated King Harold.

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1 - The number one symbolized the beginning or a source, as well as being a symbol of the one God.

2 - The number two represented the duality of the Christ - the human manifestation and the spiritual manifestation.

3 - In medieval times, the number three represented several things, but the most prominent one was the Holy Trinity: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

4 - The number four represented the four points on the cross that the Christ was crucified on. It also represented the four seasons, the four directions, and the four elements.

5 - The number five, in medieval times, was most commonly a symbol of the pentagram (a five pointed star). A pentagram had large ties with witchcraft.

7 - The number seven was representative in mainly two ways: The Seven Virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, and Justice); and The Seven Deadly Sins (Greed, Envy, Lust, Pride, Wrath, Sloth, and Gluttony).

8 -The number eight represented baptism since Jesus rose from the dead eight days after his entrance into Jerusalem. Because of this, many baptistries are octagonal in shape.

9 - The number nine symbolized the nine choirs, or ranks, of God's angels.

10 - In the middle ages, the number ten could have represented the ten spheres of Sephirot, which comes from the Kabbalah.

12 - The number twelve, of course, represented the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

Bad Luck - Most people know that the number thirteen represents bad luck, but the number forty also represents it.

666 - The number six hundred and sixty-six is represenative of the "Beast" that is mentioned in Revelation 13:18 ("...Let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six."

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The Printing press was a new mode of printing texts and books which was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the first half of the 15th century. Gutenberg came up with the idea of the new type of printing press in 1440. In the next few years, he brought together the funds needed to set up his own press which became operational by 1450.

In 1452, Gutenberg undertook the first major printing project on his new press, that of printing the famous 42-line Bible. This publication effectively heralded the beginning of the printing revolution.

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Christianity became the leading religion in the Medieval Times, while Christian doctrine of divine right and salvation by suffering provided the basis for the establishment of feudalism and feudal society. The Christian Church was organized in a strict hierarchical structure of a pyramid and remained practically unchanged until nowadays. The Pope was on the top of the hierarchy and below the Pope were the ordained clergymen: bishops, priests and deacons. Bishops (including metropolitans, archbishops or patriarchs) exercised authority over priests and deacons who were on the bottom of the churchly hierarchy.Members of the clergy were also the monks and other religious officials who obtained the Holy Order and had been ordained or appointed to offices of pastoral leadership in the church. The unordained monks, nuns, friars and religious brothers and sisters were not members of the clergy.

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Theocentrism is the belief that God is the central aspect of existence, influencing all areas of life, including philosophy, politics, and culture. The term derives from the Greek words theos (God) and kentron (center).

Theocentrism dominated the Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries), particularly in Europe, under the influence of Christianity. It began to decline during the Renaissance.

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Chivalric romance is a type of prose or verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They typically describe the adventures of quest-seeking, legendary knights who are portrayed as having heroic qualities. Chivalric romances celebrate an idealized code of civilized behavior that combines loyalty, honor, and courtly love.

The most famous examples are the Arthurian romances recounting the adventures of Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain, and the other “Knights of the Round Table.” These include the Lancelot (late 12th century) of Chrétien de Troyes, the anonymous Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (late 14th century), and Thomas Malory's prose romance (1485).

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Loyalty is a devotion to a country, philosophy, group, or person.

The concept of loyalty as it was understood in the Middle Ages,  the ties between individuals (such as marriage or feudal ties), the ties between individuals and groups (for example, the role of the individual in their wider family), and the ties between institutions and groups (such as monastic orders or guilds)

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In the Middle Ages, honor was one of the most important issues (if not the most important) for a human being and a community. honor was understood as something intrinsic to the individual, either due to their own merits or due to belonging to a specific lineage or caste. Thus, the nobles, for example, possessed the honor of their class, which differentiated them from the commoners.

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Old English language,  language spoken and written in England before 1100; it is the ancestor of Middle English and Modern English. Scholars place Old English in the Anglo-Frisian group of West Germanic languages.

Beowulf is the oldest surviving Germanic epic and the longest Old English poem; it was likely composed between 700 and 750.

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Beowulf is an Old English epic poem, likely composed around the 8th century, showcasing the heroic deeds of Beowulf, who battles Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. Rooted in Anglo-Saxon culture, it blends pagan warrior values with Christian themes of morality and heroism. It is a cornerstone of early English literature, offering insights into the era's language and traditions.

It is a

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Ridder roman (ridder literatuur) draait om verhalen over moed, trouw en liefde, geschreven voor en over ridders, die de belangrijkste militairen van de middeleeuwen waren. In het feodale tijdperk riep de vorst zijn leenmannen bij elkaar om te strijden, maar naarmate deze machtiger werden, zocht de vorst voor steun bij de lagere adel, die hij tegen betaling in dienst nam als ridders.

Ridders werden meestal van vader op zoon, en de ceremonie om ridder te worden was plechtig en kostbaar. vanaf ongeveer 1100 werden ridderromans populair in Europa, vaak op rijm en in de volkstaal. Deze romans speelden zich vaak af aan het hof van Karel de Grote of koning Artur, maar ook helden uit het verleden werden vereerd.

De belangrijkste ridders uit de geschiedenis werden vereerd als de Negen Besten, waaronder figuren uit de klassieke oudheid, joodse geschiedenis en christelijke traditie. Karelromans focusten op oorlog en massale gevechten, terwijl Arturromans zich richtten op individuele avonturen en hoofse liefde. Ridderliteratuur diende zowel als verstrooiing als voorbeeld voor edelen, met verhalen die de moed en hoffelijkheid benadrukten.

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Vanaf de twaalfde eeuw ontwikkelde zich een hoofse cultuur met gecultiveerde omgangsvormen, sterk beïnvloed door de Arabische cultuur. Literatuur speelde een belangrijke rol in het verspreiden van deze normen. Etiquetteboekjes uit die tijd bevatten regels die vaak nog steeds relevant zijn, zoals respect voor vrouwen en beleefdheid in gesprekken.

De hoofse cultuur begon bij de adellijke elite en verspreidde zich naar bredere lagen van de samenleving. Het ging om respectvolle en galante omgangsvormen, waarbij men zijn driften beheerst en anderen in hun waarde laat.

Hoofse literatuur, zoals ridderverhalen en gedichten over liefde, was een belangrijk middel om deze cultuur te propageren. Bekende voorbeelden zijn de Arturromans, waarin ridders niet alleen dappere vechtersbazen zijn, maar ook voorbeeldige minnaars die genieten van muziek, wijn en gezelschapsspelen. Deze verhalen dienden als voorbeeld voor de adel en later ook voor burgers.