January 5, 2015

HONORS
WORLD
HISTORY

THE MIDDLE AGES

FEUDALISM

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LAP 5

Honors World History

Ms. Rothweiler

Spring 2015

Overview
Able to play the role of a superpower for over seven hundred years, Byzantium retained a level of
cultural and social refinement far in advance of anything else in Europe. As the Byzantine Empire grew
in stature and prowess, the western half of the Roman Empire became small kingdoms, which were
subdivided into smaller entities. The force behind the emergence of small kingdoms was the invasion
of Germanic tribes. Eventually the Germanic tribes would conquer the western half of the Roman
Empire, but the fighting did not cease. Te Germanic kings struggled against one another for power and
land.
Trade had resulted in a prosperous Roman Empire. When the trade routes came under the siege of the
Germanic tribes, trade declined and the Roman wealth dissipated. The lack of money produced failing
cities, which were plagued by deteriorating sewage systems, shrinking purified water supplies,
decaying buildings, and lawlessness. Citizens fled the urban areas but rural areas were not in better
shape. The once magnificent highway system that had unified the empire was crumbling, the army
which had protected the countryside was no longer visible, and as bandits lay in wait, people chose to
remain close to home.
The Middle Ages was a period of confusion, disorganization, unruliness. However, it was not a dark
age as some historians call it. Yes, superstitions and myths influenced medieval thought. However,
farmers learned how to drain marsh land, created a better plow, and invented the horse collar. The
Vikings designed a ship that could safely cross the turbulent Atlantic Ocean. In response to the
problems, kings devised a new form of government known as feudalism which produced protection,
wealth, and social relationships. In France and England, stronger kings emerged fostering the
foundation for future political systems. Lastly Church leaders developed music, philosophical thought,
religious zeal and unity for western Europeans. In addition, monasteries and convents cultivated
education, writing, and health care.

Rationale
The ideas and institutions of western civilization derive largely from the turbulent events of the Early Middle
Ages and the rebirth of culture in the later years. The importance of the Middle Ages has been increasingly
recognized as scholarship based on newly published source material, archaeological findings, and studies of
demographics and migration patterns presents more accurate and detailed analyses of events and trends.

TEACHER NAME/TEACHER EMAIL ADDRESS: Ms. Deb Rothweiler, drothweiler@iwacademy.org

8 CLASS MEETINGS
Materials needed for LAP:
Notebook
Use of Internet
Textbook
Materials for selected project
OBJECTIVES: Upon Completion of this LAP students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Evaluate if the Middle Ages were a dark Age

Explain how feudalism was a political, economic, and social system
Analyze the High Middle Ages
Discuss the feudal contract
Discuss the causes and effects of the Crusades
Discuss the impact of the Bubonic plague
Identify/Define will be on www.rothiwa.com ( Testing Center )
Manorialism
feudalism
vassal
Vikings
Magyars
Muslims
William the Conqueror fief
monasticism
Pepin
Dark Ages
Crusades
Missi dominici
Domesday book
Treaty of Verdun
Anti-semitic
serf
fealty oath
Interdict
Parliament
common law
Thomas Becket

Independent and/Open Lab Assignments/Enrichment:

1. Project: No project for lap
2. Enrichment Assignments, on www.rothiwa..com due by the last day of testing

LAP TEST/ASSESSMENT:
1.

Testing Center Term Test

and 2-2 essay Feb 5

knight
Charlemagne
Charles Martel
King Alfred
The Black Death
villeins
Magna Carta

CLASS MEETINGS:

DATE/DAY DUE

First Class Meeting:

No Assignment Due at the beginning of class
Introduce the Middle Ages with Roman and feudal world activity
Second Class Meeting
Due at the beginning of class: Assignment 5-1 (formative)
Class focus: The feudal contract
Essential question: Was the feudal system political, economic, or
social system?
Third Class Meeting
No assignment due at the beginning of class
Complete Documents
Essential question: Were the Middle Ages a time of darkness, an age
of faith, or a golden age?

A Day January 6

Fourth Class Meeting

No assignment due at the beginning of class
Work on Documents
Essential question: Were the Middle Ages a time of darkness, an age
of faith, or a golden age?

Fifth Class Meeting

Due at the beginning of class: 5-3
Focus of class: The Crusades
Essential question: Were the Crusades a success or a failure for the
Catholic Church?
Sixth Class Meeting
Due at the beginning of class: 5-4
Focus of Class: Town life
Essential question: Was life better on the manor or in town
Seventh Class Meeting
Due at the beginning of class: Assignment 5-5
Focus of the Class: Charlemagne and William the Conqueror
Essential Question: Why were Charlemagne and William the
Conqueror important?

Eighth Class Meeting

Due at the beginning of class: Terms

F Day January 13

C Day January 8

E Day January 12

H Day January 15

K Day January 20

A Day January 21

C Day January 23

All assignments with explanations are on www.rothiwa.com and

classroom.google.com