Ch 13 European Middle Ages 500-1200

Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms Sec 1

Middle Ages The gradual decline of the Roman Empire ushered in the Middle Ages, or medieval period that last from about 500 to 1500 During this time a new society emerged with roots in the heritage of Rome, the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church and the customs of various Germanic tribes

Invasions of Western Europe In the fifth century, Germanic invaders overran the western half of the Roman Empire

Effects of Germanic Invasions 3 main effects of the Germanic Invasions Disruption of trade Downfall of cities Population shift from cities to the countryside

Other Effects Other effects included a decline of learning and the loss of a common language

Germanic Kingdoms In the years of upheaval between 400 and 600, small Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces While the kingdoms changed frequently the Church remained to provide order and security

What was government like under the Romans?

Change of Government Loyalty to the government and written law was replaced by loyalty to family and unwritten laws and traditions The stress on personal ties made it impossible to establish orderly government for large territories

Clovis Rules the Franks In the Roman province of Gaul (France), a Germanic people called the Franks held power Their leader Clovis brought Christianity to the region and united the Franks into one kingdom

Germans Adopt Christianity With the help of Frankish rulers the Church converted many Germanic peoples To adapt to the rural lifestyle monasteries were built Monasteries became a center of learning in the Middle Ages

Church Expands its Power Under Pope Gregory I, the Church broadened its power by becoming involved in politics The Pope used Church revenues to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poor

An Empire Evolves In 751, the Carolingian Dynasty came to be ruler of the Franks In 771, Charlemagne came to rule the kingdom and extend the empire Charlemagne united western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire

Holy Roman Emperor In 800, Charlemagne traveled to Rome to crush a mob that had attacked the Pope In exchange the Pope crowned Charlemagne, Roman Emperor This event marked the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and Roman heritage

Death of Charlemagne After Charlemagne death in 814, the empire lost strength under his son and grandsons The lack of central authority led to a new style of governing and landholding- feudalism

Feudalism In Europe Sec 2

Invaders Attack Western Europe From about 800-1000, invasions destroyed the Carolingian Empire Vikings from Scandinavia were a warlike people that raided Europe and explored the world Muslims from North Africa invaded Spain and Italy

Effects of Raids These invasions caused widespread disorder and suffering Kings could not effectively defend their land from invasion so people no longer looked to a central ruler for security Many people turned to local rulers who had their own armies

Feudalism Structures Society The feudal system is based on rights and obligations In exchange for military protection and other services, a lord, or landowner, granted land to a vassal

Knights Knights- mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lord’s land in exchange for land

Serfs In Europe in the Middle Ages, the vast majority of people were peasants Most peasants were serfs, peasants who could not lawfully leave the land where they were born Annoying Peasant

Social Classes In the feudal system, status determined a person’s power and prestige

Manors The manor was the lord’s estate The manor system was the basic economic arrangement of the Middle Ages The lord provided serfs with housing and protection and the serfs tended the land, took care of the animals, and maintained the estate

Self-Contained World Peasants rarely traveled more than 25 miles from their homes The manor contained the lord’s manor house, a church, workshops, a village, and was surrounded by fields The manor was largely a self-sufficient community The peasants raised or produced nearly everything that they needed

Harshness of Manor Life Peasants paid a high price for living on the lord’s land The peasants had to pay high taxes to the lord and to the church Peasant cottage often had one or 2 rooms and dirt floors Pigs were brought into the house to warm the houses Families often slept together on a bed of straw often filled with insects

Harshness of Manor Life Life for the peasant was all about work Average life expectancy was about 35 years

Chivalry Sec 3

Warfare During the Middle Ages, nobles were constantly at war Mounted knights were the most important part of the army Lords gave knights land in exchange for loyalty The land given to the knights gave them enough wealth to devote their lives to war

Chivalry Chivalry- complex set of ideals that demanded a knight fight bravely for his lord, God, and his lady The ideal knight was brave, loyal, and courageous Most did not meet these demands

Knight’s Training Sons of nobles were sent off to the castle of another lord at the age of 7 to serve his host and begin training At 14, the boy became a squire, servant to a knight At around the age of 21, a squire became a knight

Tournaments To gain experience some knights took part in tournaments that were mock battles jousting

Brutal Warfare By the 1100s, castles dominated the landscape of western Europe Attacking armies used a wide range of weapons and strategies to force castle residents to surrender including siege towers and catapults Defenders of castles would pour boiling water, oil, or molten lead on enemy soldiers Castle Siege

Power of the Church Sec 4

The Church Amid the weak central governments, the Church emerged as a powerful institution The Church gave people stability during tough times

Structure of the Church Like the feudal system, power was based on status The Church was headed by the Pope All clergy, bishops and priests, fell under his authority

Unity The Church gave the people of Europe a common bond during a time of political instability and constant warfare The Church unified people through beliefs, rituals, and a system of justice Church law provided guidelines for things such as marriage and religious practices

Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire- German-Italian empire that remained the strongest state in Europe from 962 to about 1100

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