Europe In The Middle Ages-9th Standard Social Science Notes

Chapter – 7

Europe In The Middle Ages

i. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
1. The cultural bankruptcy of Europe is called
2. The owner of the land was called _________
3. The person who maintained the land was called ___________.
4. The weak person who was responsible for the maintenance of land was called __________
Ans. (1) Dark Age (2) noble (3) vassals. (4)labourers
ii. Answer the following.
1. What is feudal system?
Feudal System is political and economic system that prevailed during middle ages. The king donated land to the nobles. The nobles donated small areas of land to their subordinates called vassals. The vassals had labourers who were given land sufficient for survival as long as they worked with the vassals In a nutshell, the feudal system was an arrangement to gain specific service to the feudal lords.
2. List the advantages and disadvantages of the feudal system.
(A) The advantages of the feudal system are as follows:
1. Simplicity and tailor made administrative system is the main contribution.
2. Human protection was guaranteed.
3. The ruling party could not become autocratic as they were dependent on the vassals for military
service.
4. There was notable progress in the economic system.
5. Man became aware of his duties and fundamental rights and savagery of the barbaric communities was controlled.
6. England, France and Germany encouraged literature.
7. Rules and regulations were created and this made the nobles to protect women, the weak and
the Christian religion.
(B) The Disadvantages are as follows:
1. A class of aristocracy came into being.
2. Arguments and disagreements began among the aristocrats, nobles and vassals.
3. Sometimes the nobles started competing with the lords or the kings.
4. Many became traitors and posed a threat to their own regional unity.
5. Judicial system became weak and there was no rule of law.
6. The church and the state were at loggerhens (quarrel)
3. Explain the effects of feudalism.
1. They had absolute control over military. Hence both the political and economical powers were
concentrated in one place.
2. The feudal land lords had to depend on the vassals for military human power. This restricted
the exploitation of these classes.
3. The power of Barbarians was brought under control.
4. The human beings realized their rights and duties under the system.
5. Encouraged creative output in literature in England, France and Germany
6. Feudalism slowly nourished the emergence of cities. They become the center of trade and
artecrafts.
7. Clashes took place among ruling class, feudal lords and vassals. Due to this problem, the
agreements of feudalism broke down.
4. What were the reasons for the decline of the feudalism?
The main reasons for the downfall of the feudal system are as follows:
1. The rise of powerful dynastic rule in England, France and Spain.
2. Development of regional languages, nationalism, lust for absolute power in the kings.
3. Military power and the Crusades hastened the fall of many systems.
4. Renaissance and reformation became the main reasons for the weakening of the feudal system.