3. FEUDAL NOBILITY KNIGHTS - The pestige of the feudal nobility was based on its role of as warrior elite - Knights fought on horseback using weapons such as lances and shields. - Young boys received military training for many years: - First they began service as a page (paje) at the age of eight. - When they were fifteen or sixteen they became a squire (escudero)at the service of a knight. - Finally, they were made knights in a special ceremony.
- In wartime, the nobles helped the king with military assistance. - In peacetime, they went hunting and fought against each other in tournaments.
3. FEUDAL NOBILITY -
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CASTLES The size of a Medieval castle reflected the importance of its feudal lord. At first, castles were small wooden constructions, but during the Middle Ages, they evolved into huge stone complexes designed for siege warfare. All the inhabitans of the fief coud take refuge in it in wartime. Castles were surrounded by defensive walls and ditches, called moats (fosos), hat were filled with water. A great tower, or keep, was the nobles’ place of residence. Tournaments took place in the central courtyard.
3. FEUDAL NOBILITY NOBLEWOMEN
- Women did not have many legal rights in the Middle Ages. - Woman’s main role was to have children. - Marriages were planned ir order to strengthen the links between leading families. - The girl’s family had to providea dowry (dote), which was the property or goods given o the husband at the time of the marriage. - In general, noblewomen were better educated than their husbands. Women learnt social skills, music, dancing and riding. They learnt about household management. - Travelling singer, called troubadours, idealised ladies in their songs. - Medieval ideal established that knights were at service of ladies, according to the ideal of courtly love.