Medieval Europe aka Middle Ages 500-1250 AD

THE Medieval Period Latin for the Middle Ages. AKA The Dark Ages for all the death and the… End of Western Roman Empire ( 500 AD)

Christianity spreads The Pope helped to spread it by sending missionaries to teach about Christianity

Religious communities monasteries- (men) monks Convents- (women) nuns devote their “LIVES” to God! Benedict – 500’s wrote first “code” (rules) for monks- Benedictine Rule Monks> pray for most of the day Farm Study (copied books by hand) Make wine , crafts , Medicines

480’s Clovis converted to Christianity King of the Franks 700’s Charlemagne ruled the kingdom of the Franks Had conquered France, Italy, Germany Was Christian and as he conquered spread Christianity

Charles the Great

Vikings Norsemen (Vikings) invaded from the NORTH into Charlemagne’s rule ended in early 800’s Norsemen (Vikings) invaded from the NORTH into looking for land and riches 900’s : Norsemen settled around Seine R. Became known as NORMANS – called area NORMANDY – adopted Christianity and French language. 1066 : Normans invaded England- leader was “William the Conqueror” 1199 : King John I ruler of England – made lords pay for wars, could imprison without a trial

William the Conqueror

FEUDALISM A new form of governing and organization Definition- a society based on land ownership AND service Manor-large estate owned by wealthy nobles

Lord/Lady/Vassal Lord- owned the manor/could also be “king” of his land Vassal- took an oath to serve the lord Did not own land Lord gave each ‘V’ a fief ( separate manor- he did not own it but he managed it) Most important job was to serve as lord’s knight

Knights Knight- warrior on horseback Different Stages: Page (7) - left home (son of a noble) Lived with a knight Learned etiquette Cared for horses Squire (15-20) Rode into battle with a knight Blessed by a priest Given a sword and a belt Knight- protected lord and manor

What’s up SERFer Dude? Serfs Given land to farm Had to work lord’s land too Pay rent/taxes Ask permission on lord to get married One room Church bells signaled breaks in day

The power By the middle/late Middle Ages power fell into the hands of the spiritual leader (Pope) and political leader (king). Pope seen as God’s rep. on Earth- got power from God and people If people disagreed with the Pope he would EXCOMMUNICATE them! King usually had power/things/land from family

In the mid 900’s AD- pope gave the emperor (of Charlemagne’s empire) approval to rule- now called Holy Roman Empire (pope lives in Rome) Did not inherit crown-were elected by nobles- which led to fights and trickery!

The Pope steps in Pope Leo IX believed all religious officials should answer to the Pope b/c everyone did answer to the first pope ( St. Peter) then all should answer to every Pope 1054 AD Constantinople's bishop refused to do this so Leo excommunicated him thus began the Eastern Orthodox Church 1073 Pope Gregory VII vs. Emperor Henry IV

Breaking up is hard to do! 1054: Christian church split – Constantine’s church: Eastern Orthodox ; Rome: Roman Catholic

Crusades A LONGGGGGGGG series of wars between Christians and Muslims in SW Asia over control of Palestine (Think Israel) Holy Land to both Turkish Muslims were attacking any Christians who visited Jesus’ town Turks raided the Byz. Empire- so the Empire asked the Pope for help!

Crusades 1045 Pope Urban II called for a Christian Pilgrimage (1st Crusade) to Jerusalem to capture it back from Muslim Turks 1291- last crusade Crusade- Latin for marked with a cross

#1 1st Crusade 1096- 5000 Crusaders left Europe for the HL- the peasant crusaders (pc) attacked Jews in Germany- blamed them for Jesus’ death- most of the “pcs” were killed before they reached Jerusalem Nobles reached Jerusalem and took it over- set up four small towns and traded with Europe BUT.. Within 50 years Muslims began taking land back thus the second Crusuade

#2 and # 3 1147- French and Germans set out to retake the Holy Land – again Poor planning and heavy “troop” loss led to a disaster

#3 1189- Muslims had recaptured all of the Holy Land- The French, German, English, and Holy Roman Empire led armies in- But the German king died, French King and HRE left- so that left King Richard I(the Lionhearted) to battle with Saladin (Muslim leader) Both were respected but overall, Saladin kept Jerusalem for the Muslims

#4 1201- French Knights set out this time- from Venice- and in order to pay for the trip they had to capture Zara for the HRE Instead of going to Jerusalem- they got sidetracked and ransacked Constantinople ( another Christian city……) and never made it to Jerusalem

Many more and then finally By 1291 the Muslims had recaptured ALL of the holy land and the Crusades were DONE (unsuccessful for Christians) Why, you may ask? Had to travel far from home on FOOT- many died Weren’t prepared to battle in the desert Outnumbered by well prepared and well led armies Christians fought amongst themselves and were unorganized

Crusades: helped kings to become more powerful Created more tensions between Jews, Christians and Muslims increased trade increased towns increased disease…..

Crusades

Being religious Monks of Cluny- French Monks- unhappy with Church affairs- became a religious order and devoted lives to nothing but God Dominicans and Franciscan friars lived in cities and spread Christian teachings- St. Francis of Assisi (most famous one)

As towns grew- eventually desire for education did as well- 1st university in Bologna, Italy also had them in Paris (Sorbonne) and England Thomas Aquinas- reasoned that rational thought could be used to argue Christian beliefs (ex. existence of God) Also Natural Law- God had created a law about how the world operated

Architecture * showed devotion to God by: (during M.Ages): 1. Built huge churches called Cathedrals (ex. Notre Dame) 2. going on pilgrimages to Rome or Jerusalem

1215 : Kings / Lords irritated with King John’s “idea’s” 1215 : Kings / Lords irritated with King John’s “idea’s” *limited his power with a legal document *called Magna Carta – at first only pertained to nobles but then to all “habeas corpus”- you have the body- meaning you had to have just cause to arrest someone, etc. Created a Parliament- law making body that still governs England today!

Hundred Years’ War 1328- the French king died- he had no heirs so England and France battled for his throne- France won- but England did not relent- thus began the war! For 100 years the English fought well- then Joan of Arc (French GIRL) rallied the French to stand against them- the English killed her- but the French succeeded!

Effects England Parliament's power grew King now needed permission King lost power France King’s power grew Nobles supported their king!

BLACK DEATH 1347- Black Plague starts to spread in Europe. Infected fleas traveled on infected rats on ships Spread disease- wiped out 1/3 to ½ of Europe’s population

BLACK DEATH

Black Plague – Music Video