Historical overview
Medieval western Europe was often described through those who prayed, fought and worked. This idealised social model sat alongside varied lived experiences. Landholding, lordship, serfdom, Church authority, trade and peasant action shaped change over time.
Chronology
c. 11th–14th centuries: feudal relations develop and transform
Key terms
feudalism; clergy; nobility; serf; manor
Define each term in your own words and connect it to a specific example.
Source analysis
Ask who created a source, when and for whom; identify its purpose and perspective; compare it with other evidence. A source can be valuable while incomplete or biased.
Practice
- Why treat the three orders as a model rather than a full description of society?
- Identify one cause and one consequence of the development discussed.
- What is one limitation of a source used to study this period?
Source prompt: Identify one claim an extract or image supports and one question it cannot answer alone.