Journal Entry 1: Feudalism is when a vassal gives service in return for land and protection. As a knight, I have to protect the manors and the castle from the Vikings in exchange for land. Usually, at the start of the day, I would have my breakfast and I would go to the castle. I would usually guard the castle and be the king’s bodyguard. Occasionally, I participate in battle and help fight off the Vikings and other invaders. I am happy with my job. I get a good pay and I am well trusted and well known for my actions of protecting the village from invaders. I am in the middle of the social class or Feudal Hierarchy.
Journal Entry 2: Religion is important to everyone. We believe in indulgences which allows you to pay money for forgiveness for your sins. The church also did what was called a tithe. Tithe was when you donated 10% of your income to the church to save your soul. The church is not fair but you have to go with what they do or else you get excommunicated. King Henry IV got excommunicated by the Pope Gregory VII. They were fighting over who got permission to appoint bishops for the church. The church was very strict and not believing in what the church does can lead to execution or excommunication. I follow the church and their beliefs but I mostly fight battles and guard the king. Otherwise, it does not affect me that much.
Journal Entry 3: A crusade is basically a holy war. A holy war is usually launched by the pope. In the first crusade, the holy land or Jerusalem was taken over by Arabs. The Christians called for a crusade. Since we weren’t a formal army, everyone wore a red cross. This shows that they were a unified army. We went on a two month siege on Jerusalem and we finally took over. This was known as the first crusade. There were many crusades. As a knight, crusades allow me to show off my fighting skills and it can make many people rich. The pope persuades people to fight in the crusades and if they die while fighting, they will go up to heaven.
Journal Entry 4: The Black Death also known as the Bubonic Plague started in China. It was a very contagious disease that spread by fleas. It hit Europe at around 1347. Symptoms included fever, rotting skin and buboes. The plague killed 1 out of every 2 people. Many of my fellow soldiers got infected and there is only 10 other knights including me. My family has evacuated to a different area without the disease. Rats also carried the disease. Treatment options included bloodletting which didn’t help. They let out blood to see if the disease came out but it didn’t. Nostradamus helped infected people. He studied medicine and tried to find cure.
Journal Entry 5: Three factors that declined the feudal hierarchy was the plague, the crusades, and the rise of government. Many people will separate and eventually nations and countries will rise. As a knight, I would leave with my family and live with other friends and create a society. I won’t be serving people above my class and everyone takes care for themselves. Since gunpowder was invented, I might retire from knighthood and live as a commoner. Soldiers are replacing knights and guns are being used. Learning became essential and trade is blooming. Government is changing as well. There is more democracy so everyone’s voices can be heard. The decline of feudalism allowed many people to be free. The people don’t have to work under rich nobles and they can leave the manors.