The Middle Ages Part II:High Medieval Period

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The Middle Ages Part II High Medieval Period
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Farming Improvements
1. Plow- heavier plow reached deeper into the
soil which produced more food.
2. Horsepower- replaced oxen which lived on
poor straw and moved very slowly horses
required better quality of food but were
faster horseshoe invented to aid a horses
delicate hoof.
3. Three-Field System- peasants organized their
fields into three areas rather than two. This
increased the food supply and gave peasants a
healthier diet.
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Trade Revived
1. People began moving out of the country and
into the town, each averaged 1500 to 3000 people.
2. Bourgeoisie- European middle class which lived
in the walled town.
3. Relics- things believed to once have belonged
to Jesus or a Saint people traveled far to see
these.
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Trade Revived
4. The Fair- emerged because of the large number
of people getting together to celebrate
religious times.
5. Guild- a group of people who worked at the
same occupation protected the workers from the
employees set price floors ceilings.
6. Apprentice- a person working with another
person to master a trade no salary, just
knowledge.
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Power in the Religious Sector
1. Religion spread quickly between AD 1000-
1300 and it was rooted deeply within society.
2. Needed Reforms- during the Middle Ages
church officials became corrupt.
3. Free the Papacy from the control of the
Italian Nobles. Cardinals were a group of
leading bishops who selected the pope.
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Chivalry of Knights
1. Chivalry means horse riding lord. Duty
was to defend his feudal lord and the poor/weak.
2. A knight was sent to the lord of the manor at
age 7 where became a page to learn manners
became a squire at age 14 where he aided
knights became a knight at age 21 where he went
through a special ceremonial bath, fasting,
praying, and then kneeled before the lord of the
manor.
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Chivalry of Knights
3. Romantic Love- battles were sometimes fought
in honor of the knights chosen lady under a code
of chivalry.
4. Womens Role- gained a higher respect lost
land married at age 16 to an older man. (rarely
had a choice)