The Middle Ages Life in the Middle Ages 4 elements governing life Feudalism - de-centralized government - no dominant political institution - set of rules governing relationships  involved upper class only

Kingdom of Yip the Great The Middle Ages Feudal Contract My liege lord, I, _______________, do willingly enter into homage and faith and become your sworn man, and to you and your heirs will I faithfully bear body, chattels, and earthly worship, and I will keep faith and loyalty to you against all others. In addition, I swear I will perform the following services: Signed this ___ day in the month of_______ in the year of our Lord, ________ X________________________________ I, ________________, do promise to you, as my vassal and liegeman, that I and my heirs will guarantee to you and your heirs the lands you hold of me, against all others, that you may hold said lands in peace. Kingdom of Yip the Great

The Middle Ages Political system involved lord (grants land and provides protection), vassal (receives land and offers services), and fief (land itself) feudal contract spelled out obligations of all parties for eternity designed to provide framework for governing relationships often complex – owe obligations to conflicting parties vassals become more powerful than lords/kings

The Middle Ages I, Thiebault, count palatine of Troyes, make known to those present and to come that I have given in fee to Jocelyn d'Avalon and his heirs the manor which is called Gillencourt, which is of the castellanerie of La Ferte sur Aube; and whatever the same Jocelyn shall be able to acquire in the same manor I have granted to him and his heirs in augmentation of that fief I have granted, moreover, to him that in no free manor of mine will I retain men who are of this gift. The same Jocelyn, moreover, on account of this has become my liege man, saving however, his allegiance to Gerard d'Arcy, and to the lord duke of Burgundy, and to Peter, count of Auxerre. Done at Chouaude, by my own witness, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 1200 in the month of January. Given by the hand of Walter, my chancellor; note of Milo.

The Middle Ages 2. Manorialism Economic and social system of the Middle Ages governed how people lived and made a living includes everybody – kings, nobility, priests, peasants, serfs serf – tied to land, limited to no freedom – work for lord of manor 3-4 days, work for themselves 2-3 days

The Middle Ages provides protection and some certainty for serfs self-sufficiency manorialism (along with feudalism) would slowly be replaced as organizing structure of Middle Ages as towns grew and new farming techniques developed  no longer need as much intensive labor

The Middle Ages 3. Chivalry – code of conduct governing nobility had to be brave protect the weak fight fairly loyal to friends, keep word, treat conquered foes fairly courteous to women - generally treated only nobles fairly To become knight page  learn manner & begin training w/weapons squire  knight’s asst take care of horse, weapons & clothing

The Middle Ages 4. Church (again) Hierarchy – priests (sacraments), bishops (diocese), archbishop (several dioceses), pope & curia (advisers to pope) key to salvation for people had power to excommunicate (deprive membership in church) Problems in the Medieval Church - Lay investiture – appointment of clergy by secular authority - Worldly lives of priests -Simony - payment for positions in the church - Heresy - beliefs against church teachings  led to creation of Inquisition to root out thinking that threatened unity of Church

The Middle Ages Growth of Nations England early Middle Ages  ruled by Saxon kings related to Viking invaders Edward the Confessor (1042-1066)  no heirs; leaves England to both Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy Harold of Wessex (1066) no compromise last Saxon king Battle of Hastings (Oct., 1066)

The Middle Ages Three factors going against Harold Rebellion & fatigue papal support for William omens last time England was successfully invaded by foreign power!! William the Conqueror (1066-1087) excellent administrator Domesday Book brings French culture to “backwaters” England controls English nobility

The Middle Ages Three sons (& one daughter) Robert, William, & Henry Robert  Normandy, William II (1087-1100)  England Henry  nothing Robert goes on Crusade William II goes hunting (dies) Henry I (1100-1135); Robert also “gives” Normandy to Henry (how kind!) excellent administrator of both holdings one legitimate son (and one legitimate daughter)

The Middle Ages son William dies tragically; leaving Matilda as only legitimate heir barons do not accept Matilda choose Stephen I (1135-1154)  Matilda’s cousin – grandson of William the Conqueror through daughter 1135-1154 – The Anarchy (or “When Christ & his Saints Slept” Matilda’s son – Henry II (1154-1189) becomes heir after death of Stephen’s son ends civil war

The Middle Ages Henry II Married to Eleanor of Aquitaine (11 yrs older) made Henry most powerful man in Europe – England, Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy, and now Aquitaine! ends civil war effective administrator laws – jury system, circuit judges, common law Eleanor of Aquitaine married to 2 kings (Louis VII of France & Henry II) mother to 2 kings (Richard I & John I) courtly love, chivalry adventure

The Middle Ages Problems fight w/ Thomas Becket and church murder of Becket causes loss of prestige fight w/ family Eleanor & Richard Eleanor incites open rebellion by son Richard against Henry dies after being defeated by Richard

The Middle Ages Richard I (1189-1199) – the Lion-Hearted favorite of Eleanor spendthrift  wars Third Crusade insignificant king but important in English folklore succeeded by brother –John I (1199-1216) Runnymeade Magna Carta John’s grandson  Edward I (1272-1307) parliament powerful monarch

The Middle Ages France Last Carolingian king -987 Hugh Capet appointed king of France  weak monarch controlling small area Capetian line of kings grow strong over next 3 centuries – centered around Paris Marriage creating alliances among French families rivalry with Richard I & John I  taking land from England encouraging commerce & trade Philip Augustus II (son of Louis VII) Philip the Fair  Parlement of Paris & Estates General

The Middle Ages Spain controlled by Umayyads (Muslim) Germany & Italy both unable to achieve independence due to fighting amongst princes, Holy Roman Emperors, & popes Europe – 1273-1378