Middle Ages in Europe

The Middle Ages – def. medieval period in Europe lasting from 500 – 1300 A.D. Taking place as a result of the gradual decline of the Roman Empire Primary unifying force in Western Europe = Roman Catholic Church (THE church)

1) the Pope anointed Holy Roman Emperors The Middle Ages How? 1) the Pope anointed Holy Roman Emperors 2) missionaries carried Christianity to Germanic Tribes 3) Church served social, political and religious needs of the people

Foundation of Early Medieval Society: 1. Classical heritage of Rome – Roman culture still important, even though in decline – giving way to Germanic culture 2. Christian Beliefs – most of Western Europe, including more Germanic Tribes 3. Customs of Germanic Tribes – ex: oral tradition of song and language, no written language, violence and warfare

Changes in Western Europe: 1. Disruption of Trade – frequent invasions caused trade to break down, causing a decline in cities and a lack of money in Western Europe 2. Downfall of Cities – cities were abandoned, lack of leadership 3. Population Shifts – people left cities for rural areas

Changes in Western Europe: 4. Decline of Learning – invaders couldn’t read or write, Roman culture in decline, knowledge of Greek nearly disappeared, only literate people = monks/priests 5. Loss of a Common Language – different dialects of Latin gave rise to Romance languages

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages: 1. Roman authority declined, while church authority grew 2. Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements – monks were the few who could read and write = literate

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages: 3. Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes. 4. Clovis converted the Franks to Christianity

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages: 5. Pope Leo III anointed Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 A.D. 6. Parish priests served religious and social needs of the people

The Rise of Feudalism: Background: 1. Invaders destroyed Roman ability to protect people of Western Europe 2. people, in response to this lack of protection, entered into feudal agreements with land-holding lords who promised them protection

The Rise of Feudalism: Fief – piece of land Lord – landowner, granted land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service Vassal – one who received land from a lord, pledged loyalty and military service Serf – workers/peasants who were tied/bound to the land – worked to maintain the manor

The Rise of Feudalism: Medieval Manor – lord’s estate, houses and land -had its own rigid class structure and self-sufficient economy

King Nobles/ Church Officials Knights Serfs

Serfs and Peasants (90% of population) The Rise of Feudalism – Political and Social Organization of Medieval Europe King Vassal (Lord) Knights Serfs and Peasants (90% of population) Oath of loyalty/military support Grant Fief (land) Loyalty/military Shelter/food Labor, rent Shelter/food And protection

The Manor System – The Medieval Economic System Manorialism Self sufficient Little reason to leave your manor.

The Manor System – The Medieval Economic System Not a political unit (no voting), was a system of economic organization No new ideas exchanged. Technology slow to progress. Little use of money. Wealth based on land.

Strict social hierarchy based on the feudal pyramid. Political Religious Strict social hierarchy based on the feudal pyramid. Social Status determined by birth Lack of social Mobility Code of Chivalry Rise in the power of the Pope and Roman Catholic Church Pope had power of excommunication Feudalism – Kings and nobles exchange land for loyalty and protection. Decentralized government People followed religious Canon Law – Led by Pope

Decline in learning as population shifts to rural areas Intellectual Technological Economic Manorialism Manor system – completely self-sufficient in that it had everything that was needed Little use of money Little to no trade Pay 10% tithe to church Decline in learning as population shifts to rural areas Technology slow to progress as exchange of ideas declines. Most people were illiterate Priests and monks could read and write – wrote books, mostly religious Most technology used for military or farming – Crossbow, armor, longbow, siege weapons, early guns, heavy plough, water and wind mills, mechanical clocks, stirrups, hourglass, glass, printing press