Bryce Henry

Encounters 6

Ms. Damante

April 17, 2025

                           The Middle Ages and How It Worked

Introduction

    Have you ever wondered what the middle ages were like or how the middle ages  worked? Well here’s some details on jousting, feudalism, and how to become a knight now let’s get started. The middle ages started  around 476 A.D. The middle ages were also known as the medieval era or the Dark Ages.

Feudalism

Feudalism was a government system that gave people rights during the middle ages. Feudalism started at Normandy, France which was started by none-other than William the Conqueror. Feudalism started during the 8th century, yet ended during the 15th century. Feudalism was made to provide protection to the peasants and Serfs in return for taxes. The Feudal system was organized by the Hierarchy of rulers. According to the Middle Ages Feudal System “The top leader in the land was the king.The king could not control all of the land by himself, so he divided it up among the Barons. In return, the Barons pledged their loyalty to the king. When a king died, his firstborn son would inherit the throne. The Bishop was the top church leader in the kingdom and managed an area called a diocese.The Barons and high ranking nobles ruled large areas of land called fiefs. They reported directly to the king and were very powerful.They divided up their land among Lords who ran individual manors. Their job was to maintain an army that was at the king's service. Lords and Knights- The lords ran the local manors. They also were the king's knights and could be called into battle at any moment by their Baron.

Most of the people living in the Middle Ages were peasants. They had a hard, rough life. Some peasants were considered free and could own their own businesses like carpenters, bakers, and blacksmiths.” Although it was a government system followed by all, not all benefited from this. 

How the king benefits and how he doesn't: the king benefits from this from the taxes that the peasants and serfs pay, and the kings doesn't always benefit although he has money from taxes he need to use this money to buy armor for knights but if he forgets to get knight to Barons he has to pay a tax for it. How the peasants and serfs benefit and do they don’t benefit: the peasants/serfs benefit from protection by the knights and lords however they also don’t benefit due to the taxes for the kings The Feudal system ended during the fifth century because of Black death. Because the black death killed so many people this means that they can’t protect people, nor have people pay taxes to the king. This also includes knights; this means less protection to the kings.

Jousting

Jousting is a sporting contest for knights to charge full speed on horses at each other and try to knock each other off their horse to get points.  According to ducksters it says that

tournaments were dangerous. The lances used were blunted so that knights would not be killed, but many were still injured. The best knight from each side was often awarded a prize. According to Knights Jousting the rules to jousting are, • Knights charged up to four times with lances, only three lances per match were allowed. •No winner–knights charged four more times with other weapons such as maces or flail weapons. •Still no winner–Knights dismounted and a ground battle ensued with alternative weapons such as maces and swords four more times .•No decisive winner–The judges voted, giving points for skill and accuracy and making deductions for foul strokes. During the 12th century the knights would wear chain armor over their armor because the chains would  slide the swords off to protect the knight from more injuries. According to Knights Jousting “The lance still made a massive impact in a jousting competition but it could not penetrate the armour of the knight as there was no metal point at the end.’’ Middle Ages Tournaments, Jousts, and the Code of Chivalry state that “Tournaments were dangerous. The lances used were blunted so that knights would not be killed, but many were still injured.’’ Although the knights had armor like helmets, chest plates, chain armor, leggings, boots, and etc. many still got hurt they got broken bones: this includes a broken nose, broken arms, broken legs from falling off the horse too hard, etc. Some were lucky enough to get fractured bones instead of broken.Even though jousting was entertaining and it was very dangerous,  a king died jousting. King Henry II of France died jousting against the advice of his court ministers, participating in a fateful joust. The wooden lance of his younger opponent pierced the King's headgear, shattered into fragments, and penetrated his right orbit and temple. Due to the death of King Henry II jousting was canceled as a sport people, but were allowed to practice jousting but not play it

Becoming a Knight

Becoming a knight wasn’t easy, according Medieval life and times Knighthood training began in early childhood when a basic education and good manners and rules of etiquette were taught at home. At the age of 7 young boys were sent away to the castles and homes of wealthy lords or relatives to embark on their knighthood training. From the age of seven to fourteen these young boys were given the role of a Medieval Page. For men to become knights was hard to watch. They had to leave their family and go to a place they've probably never been to at such a young age. However they were trained to the age of fourteen to twenty-one. After years of training they were called apprentice knights or more referred to as Squires.According to Becoming a knight “Knighthood training was focussed on weapon practise which included enhancing skills in horsemanship, the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance.” They were very skilled with five types of weapons. These were for close-up combat. Knight training is very important to be a great knight. according to Becoming a knight (book source) “Because the lance was the basic weapon of the mounted soldier, it as crucial that the squire become skilled in the use of that weapon. The quin ain was a device created for that purpose. It was a post that had two revolving a ms.with his lance braced against his side, the squire rode at the quintain nd attempted to hit it squarely. If his aim was less than perfect, the target would

swing around and-unless he was very quick at dodging it-would hit squarely!

Conclusion 

In conclusion the middle ages also known as the dark ages or the medieval era was mainly about feudalism, but it also had jousting which was once again canceled but still practiced and becoming knight they were the most important. Knights were part of it all the feudal system, jousting and becoming a knight.

Works Cited 

“Middle Ages Feudal System.” Ducksters. www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages_feudal _system.php  

Accessed 22 February 2023. 

Ross, David. “Feudalism and Medieval Life.” Britain Express. www.britainexpress.com 

/History/Feudalism_and_Medieval_life.htm Accessed 7 February 2023.

“Middle Ages Tournaments, Jousts, and the Code of Chivalry.”  Ducksters. www.duckster.com 

/history/middle _ages/tournaments_jousts_chivalry.php Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

“Knights Jousting.” Dropbox. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6aup8b4h0wflnmpfmtsnf/Kni 

ghts-Jousting.pdf?rlkey=e7egambac0ifhto2gra5wh6yk&e=3&dl=0 Accessed 23 Jan. 

2025.

”Becoming a knight.” Becoming a Knight //drive.google.com/file/d/1DYIPuE99LCA 

SXwqVP5cHnVtDn0aPnqf0/view  Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

“Becoming a Knight.” Medieval Life and Times. www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieva 

l-knights/becoming-a-knight.htm#google_vignett Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.