1. Name four methods of attacking a castle and describe how they worked. 2. Name the three different men-at-arms during the Middle Ages. 3. What were the duties of a page? 4. What weapons did a knight use? 5. Explain the following terms: (a) Jousting (b) Tilt (c) Chain mail 6. Describe the process of dubbing.
HISTORICAL EMPATHY
7. Would you like to have lived in a castle in medieval times? Give reasons for your answer. 8. Write about life as a knight in the Middle Ages. Use the following headings as a guide: (a) Training (b) Rules of chivalry (c) Weapons and armour (d) Tournaments
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY
9. In small groups, examine and discuss the image shown here of the Brazilian police riot gear during the World cup in 2014. In what way is the armour similar to that worn by knights in the Middle Ages? What changes have occurred over the centuries?
DiScOvErInG HiStOrY
D. Life in the Countryside
During the Middle Ages, almost three quarters of the population of Europe lived in the countryside. Most of these lived in villages. Nobles who were not wealthy or powerful enough to own a castle lived in a manor house (1), a smaller version of the stone castle. This was situated on the edge of a village. The village and the land surrounding it were known as the manor or grange.
The nobleman was called the lord of the manor. The land that he kept for his own use was called a demesne.
The lord’s bailiff (2) lived on the manor. He made sure all rents and taxes were collected. If there were any crimes in the village, the bailiff brought the accused to the lord for punishment.
Around the manor there were small houses (3) where the peasants lived. The houses were made from wood or wattle and daub and had a thatched roof. They had two rooms: one for the family and the other for the animals. Some villagers also worked as blacksmiths or carpenters.
There was a church (4) at the centre of the village.
The grassy area in the village was known as the commons (5). This was where the peasants grazed their animals.