Medieval Europe (500-1350 AD)

I. The Medieval Christian Church- the Roman Catholic Church becomes stabilizing force during the “Dark Ages”

A. Catholic Church clergy- led by the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests

Structure of Medieval Catholicism Pope Cardinals Archbishops/Bishops Priests

Roman Catholicism Today

1. Clergy responsible for copying Greek/Roman texts, the Bible, preserving education in Europe

B. Warlike Germanic kingdoms in N. & E B. Warlike Germanic kingdoms in N. & E. Europe converted to Catholicism (500-1000)

C. Church built Gothic Cathedrals (tall, pointed, stained glass windows, gargoyles)

Bourges Cathedral (France)

Westminster Abbey (England)

Notre Dame Cathedral (France)

Think About It... *Why do you think medieval cathedral builders made their churches so large? *Why did they include stained glass windows of Bible stories?

Gargoyles

1. In 1054 Christians in E. Europe, Russia, & Greece denied the authority of the Pope & created the Christian Eastern Orthodox Church, divided East & West

St. Basil’s Cathedral (Russia)

Eastern Orthodox Church Today

II. Civilization In The Early Middle Ages

A. The Franks develop the first medieval empire (500-800 AD) Charlemagne

Under king Charlemagne, the Franks ruled most of Western Europe, spread Catholicism to new areas 2. After Charlemagne’s death, empire broke apart, creating modern nations of Germany, France, & Italy

Division of Charlemagne’s Empire (870 AD) FRANKISH EMPIRE

B. Western Europe develops system of Feudalism- system of loyalties from king, to lord, to knight, to serf (peasant)

Structure & Rules of Feudalism King/Queen Military service, obedience Land, Power, Respect Lords/Nobles Military service, obedience Land, Power, Respect Knights Protection Serfs (Peasants) Labor

A. Government based on monarchy- rule by king/queen

C. Economy based on the manor- self-sufficient communities with church, mill, cottages all surrounding king/lord’s castle

Medieval Manor

1. Trade, cities, money disappear in some areas

2. Feudal justice- lord’s responsibility to settle disputes with a trial by battle (knights) or a trial by ordeal (serfs) A Medieval torture known as “The Rack”

3. Code of Chivalry- knights should be generous/ brave, respectful of women, family honor, rules of warfare

Medieval Weapons FLAIL MACE LONG SWORD POLEAXE

D. Lords fight each other in many small wars using siege warfare- attacking each other’s manors/castles

E. Language- use of vernacular (common) languages replace Latin, two major categories: 1. Romance- French, Spanish, Italian 2. Germanic- German, English, Dutch

THEROMANSWERESMARTANDALLBUTTHEYWROTELIKETHISITCOULDBEHARDTOREADBECAUSEALLLETTERSWERECAPITALIZEDANDPUNCTUATIONWASMISSING The Franks used a more stylized Latin alphabet that included capitals and lower case letters as well as spaces between the words.

F. Innovations- eye glasses, clock invented, Arabic number system used, improvements in metal working/ ship building

G. Vikings from Scandinavia raided and traded throughout Europe (700-1000 AD)

Viking Ships

1. Viking Leif Erikson reaches N. America (1000 AD)

Viking Expansion (750-1000 AD)

The Viking World (750-1000)

III. Growth of Royal Power In England

Hastings

A. Battle of Hastings (1066)- fought between English king Harold & William the Duke of Normandy, William wins and becomes a model king William, Duke of Normandy

Battle of Hastings (1066)

Bayeux Tapestry “King Harold is killed”

1. Wrote the Domesday book to gather taxes efficiently

2. Created one system of trade, laws, courts William built the Tower of London

B. William’s descendents reformed England: granted rights, ended feudal trials, & restored trial by jury

C. Magna Carta (Great Charter)- written in 1215, created a limited monarchy, king must govern with an elected representative assembly– Parliament

Magna Carta

Think About It... *What did King William & his descendents do to make England a strong nation?

1. Parliament- divided into 2 houses: House of Lords (Bishops, Lords), House of Commons (knights, villagers) 2. England has first form of democracy since Romans

D. By 1350, England controls Ireland & Scotland (despite a rebellion led by William Wallace & Robert Bruce) & emerges as a regional power Statue of William Wallace in Scotland

The Emergence of England (900-1400)