Medieval Europe
Life in Western Europe during the Middle Ages was very different than it is today, with lifestyles unique to that time. Tremendous insecurity existed because of the threats of the Viking raiders and the Umayyad Caliph. The Europeans became very self-sufficient and did not heavily rely on trade from other places, which helped to create a new social structure. As a result, Medieval Europe had many distinctive customs that are no longer practiced.
The Europeans were very insecure during this time period because of the new threats that emerged, specifically the Vikings from Scandinavia and the Umayyad Caliph. An elite strike force of Arabs and Berbers, under the authority of the Umayyad Caliph, crossed the Straight of Gibraltar and overthrew …show more content…
After the Roman Empire fell, trade across the Mediterranean diminished and people began to rely on the meager resources of the area in which they lived (Bulliet 246). In all of Western Europe, self-sufficient farming communities, manors, were established (Bulliet 246) as the people moved away from the urban-based civilization that defined the Roman Empire. Peasants, or serfs, would work for the lord of the manor who would shelter them from attack. The serfs could be treated as cruelly or as humanely as the master wanted, with few laws enforced (Doc. 4, Harsh Treatment of Serfs and Slaves). This practice was established because of the instability of the region and the possibility of warfare. The resultant feudal society shaped the region for the next few hundred years. Feudalism involved the serfs submitting to a vassal, the noble who owned the manor. The noble was given the manor by the king. In exchange for the land, known as a fief, the vassal promised to give military support to the king. The fiefs were like small villages with the lord of the manor providing governance and justice (Bulliet 247). This system helped to hold Europe together during this time of uncertainty. The self sufficiency of the region helped to shape this era of history, providing a sense of stability to the region that would continue until it was conquered by
The Europeans were very insecure during this time period because of the new threats that emerged, specifically the Vikings from Scandinavia and the Umayyad Caliph. An elite strike force of Arabs and Berbers, under the authority of the Umayyad Caliph, crossed the Straight of Gibraltar and overthrew …show more content…
After the Roman Empire fell, trade across the Mediterranean diminished and people began to rely on the meager resources of the area in which they lived (Bulliet 246). In all of Western Europe, self-sufficient farming communities, manors, were established (Bulliet 246) as the people moved away from the urban-based civilization that defined the Roman Empire. Peasants, or serfs, would work for the lord of the manor who would shelter them from attack. The serfs could be treated as cruelly or as humanely as the master wanted, with few laws enforced (Doc. 4, Harsh Treatment of Serfs and Slaves). This practice was established because of the instability of the region and the possibility of warfare. The resultant feudal society shaped the region for the next few hundred years. Feudalism involved the serfs submitting to a vassal, the noble who owned the manor. The noble was given the manor by the king. In exchange for the land, known as a fief, the vassal promised to give military support to the king. The fiefs were like small villages with the lord of the manor providing governance and justice (Bulliet 247). This system helped to hold Europe together during this time of uncertainty. The self sufficiency of the region helped to shape this era of history, providing a sense of stability to the region that would continue until it was conquered by