A middle ages painting of a Knight in armor, a cleric, and a workman holding a shovel.

Source: Cleric-Knight-Workman, Wikimedia

How would you feel if --

  1. Your future was planned for you and you had no say?
  2. Your place in society was determined at birth (who your parents were) and you could not improve your lot in life?
  3. You could not move away from your hometown to get a fresh start?

Well, that is what life was like for the vast majority of people in Medieval Europe . Why was this the case? Around 400 AD the Roman Empire collapsed leaving a power vacuum (no one was in charge). Germanic and Viking tribes began moving west across Europe attacking and plundering small, defenseless villages as they went.

A feudal era village being looted by Viking raiders who are burning the houses and killing the residents.

Source: Viking raid on a Monastery, Hurstwic

Instruction to Students: In your notes, write about what you see and consider how you would feel if the government collapsed and left you defenseless against your enemies?