The Middle AgesThe Middle AgesA Brief OverviewA Brief Overview

Why?Why?

There was a desire to make There was a desire to make countries stronger after the fall countries stronger after the fall of the Roman Empire. of the Roman Empire.

The two areas that were focused The two areas that were focused on were trade and religion. on were trade and religion.

Who?Who?

There are many people we associate There are many people we associate with The Middle Ages. All had a role with The Middle Ages. All had a role in society back then.in society back then.

King and QueenKing and Queen

Ruled the country. Held all Ruled the country. Held all the power.the power.

BaronsBarons

Wealthy and powerful people who had Wealthy and powerful people who had control and power in a small portion of control and power in a small portion of the country. They had their own the country. They had their own armies. Kings wanted them happy so armies. Kings wanted them happy so that there would be no trouble.that there would be no trouble.

Lords and LadiesLords and Ladies

They held a lot of power. The lords They held a lot of power. The lords owned land and served in the army owned land and served in the army when needed. The ladies had an when needed. The ladies had an indulgent life.indulgent life.

Anglo SaxonsAnglo Saxons

European settlers after the Romans European settlers after the Romans left. Mostly farmers and sailors. left. Mostly farmers and sailors. They were from Germany, Holland, They were from Germany, Holland, and England.and England.

GothsGoths

A tribe from Scandinavia, the Goths A tribe from Scandinavia, the Goths played a role in taking down the played a role in taking down the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.

VikingsVikings

Explorers, warriors, pirates and merchants Explorers, warriors, pirates and merchants who raided, explored and settled in who raided, explored and settled in different areas in Asia and Europe.different areas in Asia and Europe.

KnightsKnights

Knights spent their lives training and Knights spent their lives training and then serving their king.then serving their king.

MonksMonks

Monks took the vow of poverty, Monks took the vow of poverty, chastity and obedience in orsder chastity and obedience in orsder to give themselves to the to give themselves to the brotherhood. They do this to be brotherhood. They do this to be closer to God.closer to God.

FreemenFreemen

Peasants who rented land or worked for pay. Freemen were usually craftsman. Sometimes, a woman had this status.

SerfsSerfs

Serfs were not slaves, but were not free. They belonged to the land, not the lord. They worked hard but got money or land in return.

They could not be bought or sold.

SlavesSlaves

The lowest class of citizens. The lowest class of citizens. They had no rights and They had no rights and worked for the lords.worked for the lords.

MerchantsMerchants

Medieval merchants sailed the seas Medieval merchants sailed the seas around Europe and the Mediterranean to around Europe and the Mediterranean to do trade. They made themselves very rich do trade. They made themselves very rich through their work. They traded in food, through their work. They traded in food, raw materials, and luxuriesraw materials, and luxuries: wool from England, : wool from England, furs from Russia, wood from Scandinavia, salt and wine from furs from Russia, wood from Scandinavia, salt and wine from France, horses from Spain, cloth and tapestries from Flanders, France, horses from Spain, cloth and tapestries from Flanders, glass from Italy, and silks and spices from Asia.glass from Italy, and silks and spices from Asia.

JestersJesters

A Jester was a professional clown A Jester was a professional clown employed to entertain a king or employed to entertain a king or noblemannobleman

The EndThe End

The Middle Ages came to an end when The Middle Ages came to an end when the people started focusing more on the people started focusing more on literacy and education. These changes literacy and education. These changes led to the Renaissance period.led to the Renaissance period.