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Year 7 History Workbook – Medieval Life

All activities are highlighted in blue

Writing structure and guidance is in purple

Useful links to assist learning:

Students can also use class books if available.

Questions for parents: Two per lesson.

1) Do you think the medieval church had more power if people couldn’t read . 2) Do you think it’s right for a religion to scare people into being good?

3) Do you think peasants would have been happy with the feudal system?

4) Can you think of anyway peasants might be able to hurt or damage a king?

5) What else would have stopped being committing crimes in this period?

6) Do you think medieval punishments were fair?

7) Do you think most medieval people had a happy life?

8) What type of entertainment would you miss the most if we went back to this time?

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For most of this year we have focused on the key events of the Medieval period such as the Norman conquest and the crusades. It is important as historians however to consider the smaller details of how normal people lived, and what shaped their attitudes to the world around them. This allows for a much deeper understanding of the past and the medieval period.

Today in most countries you usually find several religious faiths. In medieval Europe however this was not the case, the dominate faith in Western Europe was Christianity. Belief in God was a central part to understanding medieval society and life. As you will see in this lesson

Lesson 1- LO: To reinvestigate religion in the Medieval period.

Task 1. Complete the brain dump on anything you can remember about religion in Western Europe.

Task 2. Read the short paragraph explaining why religion was so important to medieval people and answer the questions.

Why were people so religious?

In the medieval period virtually, everyone believed that heaven and hell were real places that you would go to when you died. The main reason for this was because there was a

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For most of this year we have focused on the key events of the Medieval period such as the Norman conquest and the crusades. It is important as historians however to consider the smaller details of how normal people lived, and what shaped their attitudes to the world around them. This allows for a much deeper understanding of the past and the medieval period.

Today in most countries you usually find several religious faiths. In medieval Europe however this was not the case, the dominate faith in Western Europe was Christianity. Belief in God was a central part to understanding medieval society and life. As you will see in this lesson

limited knowledge of science and generally how the world worked. Things like pandemics which we now know are caused by bacteria and germs to medieval people would seem like a magic illness that spread from nowhere. Therefore, the natural explanation came to be that God had to have caused the event. Also, the promise of heaven meant that people could justify their hard lives as trials from God that if they overcome, they would have a wonderful afterlife. This gave people hope and motivation.

How did science explain why people were so religious?

Why was an afterlife important for people in the medieval period?

Most medieval people could not read or write. Because of this the Christian church had to come up with ways of making sure people understood Christianity and its rules and expectations without reading the bible. Because of this use of pictures were central as everyone could understand a picture of heaven or hell. Church services were also essential, and priests played a central role in people’s lives, reminding them always of the importance of living a good Christian life to get to heaven.

Doom paintings became one of the most common ways that the Christian church made sure people believed in God.

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Stain glass windows were also used to show people things like heaven or Christian stories about saints or Jesus.

Task 3. Read through the sources and fill in the table to show how priests and doom paintings ensured people believed in God.

Priest Doom paintings

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Source A

These paintings would often show very scary depictions of hell. They would show people being eaten or cooked alive. This would scare people would believe that this is what hell would be like for them if they died after living a bad life or not believing in God.

Source B

Priests were involved in a person’s life from almost the moment they are born. Key life events involved the priest such as weddings, funerals and baptisms. This helped make sure Christianity was part of people’s lives. The church was also a social space and was used as a meeting place and area for fairs and gamest to be played.

Source C

These paintings could also show rewards to the people. Many scenes showed a glorious heaven with a bright sun and tall buildings and lots of nature. This meant people were also motivated to believe in God as they thought a great reward would be waiting for them.

Source D

At least once a week a service would be given by the priest. The priest would use this time to further spread the message of heaven and hell. Priests were the only people who could read the bible at the time as it was written in Latin. This made it hard for most people to question whatever the priest said.

Source E

Confession was one of the most important roles for a priest. It would give a person a chance to tell the priest about a sin they may have committed. The priest would then help the person earn God’s forgiveness, sometimes this would be just be praying but could also involve making a pilgrimage.

People believed in God so much…

Because the church gave everyone free food and water.

Because there was a law meaning every family had their own bible.

Because with a limited knowledge about science and the world things like

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natural disasters can only be explained by God.

The afterlife motivated people…

To do what they were told by the king and earls.

To continue living good lives in an often-harsh world at the time.

To live their life on earth to the fullest.

Doom paintings…

Usually scared people into being faithful to God. They would show hell in very graphic ways.

Showed the end of the world which people thought would happen if people didn’t stop committing sins.

Were hung up around villages so people saw them everywhere.

Priest were important because…

They played a central role in people’s lives.

They decided what punishment people got.

They acted as leaders for villages.

Task 5. Answer the question below.

Explain why people were so religious in the medieval times.

Steps to successes

Identify one reason why people believed in God.

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Describe this reason with evidence and facts.

Explain why this made people believe in God.

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Task 6. Go back to your brain dump and add anything new that you have learnt.

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Lesson 2- LO: To re-examine the feudal system. Life in medieval Europe was dominated by the political system known as feudalism. This was a system that allowed the king or queen of a country to keep control of his land. It was based off the king owning all the land and then gifting this land to lords to rule on his behalf. These lords would then in turn assign knights to keep order in local villages.

Task 2. Read the information about the feudal system and how it helped a king rule and answer the questions.

The feudal system is basically a way of organising society into different groups based on the roles they play in society. It had the king at the top with complete control, and at the very bottom were the peasants.

The King:

The king was chosen by God and this gave him absolute power. People also believe that certain members of royal families could heal diseases. This belief meant that the king or queen of a country owned all the land in the country. Everyone had to pay homage to the king which was a promise to be loyal. In return it was the king’s duty to protect his country. The king couldn’t be everywhere at once and so he had to entrust parts of his kingdom to his closest allies to rule and keep order on his behalf.

Where did the king get his power to rule from?

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Life in medieval Europe was dominated by the political system known as feudalism. This was a system that allowed the king or queen of a country to keep control of his land. It was based off the king owning all the land and then gifting this land to lords to rule on his behalf. These lords would then in turn assign knights to keep order in local villages.

What is another example of how powerful people believed a king/queen could be?

What was the main role of the king?

How much land did the king own?

Earls/Lords:

Earls or lords made up some of the most powerful people in medieval society. They were made up of rich families some with ties to the royal family through weddings and families. The king trusted his allies and would give them parts of a country to rule on his behalf. In return the earls must provide the king with money made from the land they rule and crucially men for an army. This allowed the king to be able to ensure he could quickly raise an army to deal with any danger to his rule. These earls however also could not be in every single part of the land they ruled and so they divided the land up and entrusted it to their knights.

What was a common way in which a lord or earl created ties with the royal family?

What two things did an earl have to give to the king in return for a large portion of land to rule?

How did using earls help a king or queen rule safely?

What did earls do with their land to rule it effectively?

Knights:

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Knights were high ranking members of medieval society who served their local lord. They train for service all their life. An earl would let a knight own a small area of his land such as a group of villages. In return the knights had to firstly make sure the peasants were working and paying rent either with money or food. They also gave a promise they would fight for their lord whenever they were asked. They would help raise an army in the villages they controlled. They also helped keep control of the land by making sure peasants were staying loyal and did not leave.

What did a knight make sure local villages or farms were doing?

How else did knights help their earl in return for land?

Peasants:

At the very bottom of society was the ordinary people or peasants as they were known. Peasants in medieval society were looked down upon by the knights and earls. Peasants could not own land. Instead they were given a strip of land by a knight. In return for having somewhere to live the peasants had to pay rent with food or money. They were also not allowed to leave and were almost salves to the lords. Because they had no rights the feudal system kept the king in control as peasants were unable to rise most peasants would not want to risk their small piece of land by questioning their rulers.

What land owning rights did peasants have?

How did a peasant get somewhere to live?

What did they have to give in return for the right to rent land?

How were the rights of peasants kept down?

How did this help a king/queen rule?

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Task 3. Review what you have learnt about the feudal system by matching the statement to each person.

The King

The Earls

The Knights

The Peasants

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These people were at the very bottom of the system. They owned no land and had to work and give a portion of their crops to the knight who ruled them.

This person owned all the land they sit at the very top of the political system. They distribute the land they own.

These people helped control each village or small area of land. They would answer any disputes and make collect rent from the peasants. They would help form the army for the king and fight in wars.

These people were close friends or allies to the king. In return for loyalty and support in wars they were given land to rule by the king. They also pay money to the king.

Task 4. Answer the question below.

Explain how the feudal system helped a king or queen rule their country.

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Task 5. Add anything new you have learnt to your brain dump.

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Task 1. Use the space below as a brain dump. Try to write as much as you can already remember about medieval crimes or punishments.

Trials Punishments Trial by combat is when two people fight, the winner is said to have Gods support in the trial.

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Lesson 3- LO: Medieval Crimes and Punishments. There was no police force as we know of in the medieval period. However, there were efforts to stop crime and catch and punish those who did commit crimes. Like everything in this period religion was a key factor in crimes and punishments. Often God was asked to decide if a person was guilty or innocent through ‘trials by ordeals.’ Punishment for crimes was often harsh and there was a belief that the punishment should match the crime.

The medieval period did have trials, but they were nothing like the trials we have today. There was a judge but not jury. Evidence would be discussed and if possible, would be used to decide a person’s guilt or innocence. What is most different is that in Medieval trials if a choice could not be made then people would ask God for guidance. ‘Trials by ordeals’ became a way of testing what God thought about a person. Each trial would involve some sort of painful or life-threatening situation and the outcome was said to be God’s choice on the matter. There were three main types of these trials which you can learn about below.

Task 2. Match each brief description to the trial that you think it is describing.

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A person is thrown into a river or body of water. If the person dies, then it was believed God had taken them to heaven, so they were innocent. Survivors were rejected by God and therefore guilty of some crime.

Trial by combat.

Once you had been found guilty of a crime the punishment could be almost anything. Punishments ranged from the extreme such as mutilation and death to just public humiliation such as people throwing rotting food at you. As discussed earlier there was a theme of punishments matching a crime. A thief therefore would commonly have his or her hand or fingers removed.

One type of punishment was the stock. As you can see the there are three holes one for the head and two for someone’s arm. The stock forces you to stand in an awkward and uncomfortable position you could spend days in a stock, and even worse people were often allowed to throw things at you and humiliate you further.

The pillory is just like the stocks, but you stand upright. Notice in the picture all the people, that’s because punishments for crime became a form of entertainment for people! Seeing a criminal being punished was one of the most popular things in the medieval period. The most exciting for people was when they go the chance to see an execution.

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A person or people is made to either hold something very hot such as burning metal or walk across something hot like coals. Afterwards if the persons burn heal, he is seen as innocent because God healed him. If the burns do not heal the person is guilty.

This was mainly used by rich members of society. Two people would fight, they can either be the people in the trial or people selected to represent them. The winner of the fight clearly has Gods favour and so his party wins the trial.

Trial by fire.

Trial by water.

Task 3. Using the sources complete the table to show what punishments were given for types of crimes. One example has already been completed.

Crime Punishment

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Source A: Report from a local trial in a town in Warwickshire

John and his friend Tom were found to be drunk and disorderly in their local village. As lord of the land I have decided the pair must spend a whole day forced to stand up right with their hands over their heads in the pillory. We also use the stocks which are similar to a pillory only the persons hands are not over their heads. The stocks are given for people who have fights or cause general commotions in their area. For minor crimes like this we find the mixture of humiliation and mild pain a good deterrent to stop them doing the same thing again!

Source B—Diary of a baker living in London, 1112.

What a mistake I have made! I accidently sold some gone off bread to a villager, he was outraged and told our lord. The lord has now declared that for selling bad bread I must be dragged through the town by a horse while people throw rotten food at me! This would be a fair punishment if I had sold the bread deliberately!

Source E: Extract from a school textbook, 2015:

The worst punishment that can be used in England was to be hung, drawn and quartered. This was a brutal method of execution. First the person is hung, then before they die, they are cut down and their insides are pulled out, while they are still alive! After this, the person is cut up

Task 4. Imagine you are now a medieval judge. Read through each case and decide what punishment you would give; your punishment must be appropriate! Go back to your table if you are unsure.

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Source D: Diary of an executioner working near modern Birmingham.

Executions are a nasty business, but they must be done to keep order! If someone murders someone else, then it is only right their life is forfeit. Furthermore, serious assaults and stealing things of extreme value deserve executions in my eyes. These types of crimes could change the victims lives for ever!

Two young men John and Paul have been causing a commotion all day. They have been running around the village and disrupting the good people going about their day of work.

Jacob has been caught stealing bread. People are concerned that crime is rising in their village.

I would sentence John and Paul toSpend some time in the stocks and pillory.

I would do this because in the medieval period Causing a nuisance to other people was a crime, but it was not too serious. Therefore, these two would be publicly humiliated.

I would sentence Jacob toHave some of his finger removed.

I would do this because in the medieval period Punishments for certain crimes were harsh and matched what the person had done. This would

Source E: Extract from a school textbook, 2015:

The worst punishment that can be used in England was to be hung, drawn and quartered. This was a brutal method of execution. First the person is hung, then before they die, they are cut down and their insides are pulled out, while they are still alive! After this, the person is cut up

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I would sentence Jacob toHave some of his finger removed.

I would do this because in the medieval period Punishments for certain crimes were harsh and matched what the person had done. This would

George and Richard have been found guilty of stealing a very valuable piece of jewellery. What’s worse Richard while fleeing pushed down a villager breaking his back.

In the Royal court, Lord Albert of Sussex has been found guilty of a plot to overthrow the king!

I would sentence George and Richard toBe executed.

I would do this because in the medieval period If you stole something that was highly valuable you could be executed. Also, Richard broke someone’s back which is a life altering injury.

I would sentence Albert toBe hung drawn and quartered.

I would do this because in the medieval period Treason was seen as the worst crime you could commit and therefore needed an especially harsh punishment.

Task 5. Review your learning by completing the sentences below.

If a verdict could not be made during the trial.

People would throw out the case.

Medieval people would turn to God and ask for his judgement through a trial by ordeal.

You were found guilty anyway.

Punishments…

Ranged greatly depending on the crime, sometimes people were humiliated, and other times people were executed or had body parts removed.

Were humane and had to follow strict guidelines.

Were always very harsh and cruel.

The worst type of punishment was...

Being exiled. Being hung, drawn and quartered. This was mainly only used for treason which was the worst crime.

Having your home destroyed and all your money taken.

The three main types of trial by ordeal were…

Trial by water, fire and combat.

Trial by prayer, pain and punishment.

Trial by combat, water and stone.

Task 6. Complete the question below.

Describe two features of crime and punishment in the medieval times.

Steps to successes

Identify a feature i.e. a type of crime, punishment or trial.

Briefly describe that feature in one or two sentences.

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One feature of crime and punishment was

This was...

Another feature was ...

This was ...

Task 7. Add anything new you have learnt to your brain dump from task 1.

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Lesson 4- LO: To revise Medieval Entertainment.

We often see the medieval times as a hard-cruel time for people to have lived, and in many respects this is true. However, despite that, people still needed and had ways of keeping themselves entertained. Knowing how people kept themselves happy and entertained is central to studying the life of a medieval of a normal person as it tells us how people kept happy and motivated in often very hard times

Task 1. Use the space below as a brain dump. Try to remember anything you can about how people kept entertained in the medieval period. One example has been done.

Medieval Entertainment:

Richer members of society played tennis and chess.

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Task 2. Read through the information about how people kept entertained and answer the questions.

Time off from work:Medieval people did not have holidays like we do. Virtually everyday of the year was spent working. There were a few exceptions to this rule however and there were a number of ‘holy days’ in which all people could take some time off work. These days including Christmas, Easter and various days dedicated to Christian saints. Free time was only available after a church service had been given. Indeed, the modern word holiday comes from the tern ‘holy day.’

How did religion influence people’s entertainment?

Explain where the modern word holiday came from.

How would people enjoy Holy days:

For most people entertainment was up to you and people had to make fun and games from whatever they could many games were home made from things that easy to find such as conkers. Some games, like conkers and football turned out to be so popular that they are still enjoyed today. However, lots of other games have not lasted. One example is stoolball, when a young lady sits on a chair while men throw a ball at her which she tries to doge. Shin Hacking was also a simple game were people would kick each other’s shins until someone gave up. Finally, there was cold hand, which is when a blindfolded person works out which person slapped them! Other medieval pass times that still exist are golf, bowling, and ice skating these show us that even though are lives are very different we still have some links to medieval period. People also liked competitions such as wrestling or archery which young men in England were lawfully required to practice. People also used animals for their entertainment in cruel ways. Fighting animals was common, bear batting was one of the most popular spectator events. People would bet on if a group of dogs could kill one bar or not. Likewise cock fighting would see two male chickens sometimes with metal attached to their claws would fight usually to the death.

How did people make or come up with games to play?

Give three examples of games that are still popular today.

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Give three examples of games that are no longer popular.

Why do you think these games are no longer enjoyed?

How were animals used for entertainment?

Entertainment for the rich:

Rich noble people usually had more free time and more opportunities for entertainment unlike the peasants who had to work almost all of the year. The most popular way rich people kept entertained was watching and sometimes competing in tournaments. Tournaments were a series of events such as sword fighting and jousting with prizes for the winners. Rich people also had access to jesters and jugglers to provide them with comedy. Nobility also enjoyed feasting and hunting with their free time. This shows us that while for most people the medieval period was a very harsh time, for some it was time of luxury and living in excess! While relaxing at home rich members of society also enjoyed chess and cards, tennis was even invented and enjoyed by the upper classes!

Why was a rich person able to have more time for entertainment?

What is a tournament?

What game was invented for rich medieval people that is still played today?

What other games did wealthier people play at home?

Task 3. Review your learning by completing the true or false activity. Most people in the medieval times…

Had to work all year round. They would only get a few special ‘holy

Had weekends off to relax.

Worked every single day and had no time for fun and games.

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days’ off each year.

Games were often…

Simple and very relaxed. People did not like hurting each other or animals.

Simple and made from whatever was close at hand such as conkers or animals. Many involved pain or violence to some extent.

Played in nearby rivers and water sources.

Rich people kept entertained more because…

They had more free time and money to spend on things.

They could afford to travel to places on holidays.

The king or queen liked to make sure he was treating his closest friends well.

The most popular type of entertainment for the rich was…

Tennis. Tournaments were people would have lots of competitions such as jousting.

Bear baiting and cold hands.

Task 4. Answer the question below.

Describe two types of ways people kept entertained in the medieval period.

Steps to successesIdentify one way in which medieval people kept entertained. Describe the game/activity.

One-way people kept entertained was_________________________________________________________________This was...___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Another way people kept entertained was _________________________________________________________________This was ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 5. Go back to your brain dump and add anything new you have learnt.

Optional Task 6. Using the space below design a poster for a holy day. Include a timetable of some of the games people can expect as well as what else they must do on a holy day. Email your poster to your teacher for a possible shout out in the school assembly!

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