Changes in Western Europe Repeated invasions and constant warfare ended Western Roman Empire: Disruption of Trade Population Shift-Moves from cities to countryside. 5th Century to 15th Century Began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire Downfall of Cities--Cities were abandoned. Businesses collapse and money becomes scarce. Moves from cities to countryside (rural). Merchants faced invasions from land and sea.

Changes in Western Europe People turned to church for order and security. The Church adapts to the rural conditions of Western Europe. Led to widespread conversion among the Frankish peoples, to religious unification across what is now modern-day France, Belgium and Germany,

Lesser Lords (Vassals) The Feudal System King Military Service & Labor Loyalty Lords Lesser Lords (Vassals) Land & Protection Broadly defined, it was a way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour  In a feudal system, a peasant or worker known as a vassal received a piece of land in return for serving a lord or king, especially during times of war. Vassals were expected to perform various duties in exchange for their own fiefs, or areas of land. Knights Peasants (Serfs)

Feudal System Everyone knew their place and what they had to do. Manor system provided for an economy that was based on farming

Manors The manor was the lord’s estate. Lord would provide serfs housing, farmland, and protection. Serfs tended the lord’s lands, cared for his animals, etc. The manor was largely a self-sufficient community.

Knights Education of began at 7. Sent off to castle of another lord to be a page. Learned manners, played chess, learned strategies, sword fighting.

Education of a Knight Squire would act as a servant to a knight. (Age 14) Took care of the knight’s armor, weapons, horse Age 21- squire became a full-fledged knight. Equipment Manager

Knights Bound by a strict code called chivalry. Knights were expected to be brave, loyal, truthful and protective of women and those weaker than them.

Castles Rectangular towers were rounded off to deflect missiles Castle doors were reinforced with one or more iron grilles, sometimes a 2nd door. Wooden castles were easily destroyed by the burning missiles slung by siege weapons. exposed walls could be as thick as 33 feet Castles began to be built with stone and their walls were built higher and thicker

Beginnings of the Crusades Muslim Seljuk Turks conquered nearly all Asia Minor. 1071-Jerusalem was conquered. 1093-Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II to join his war against the Muslim Turks , so that the Holy Land could be controlled by Christians once again

Crusades Alexius I begged Pope for help so that Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem would not be destroyed. Pope Urban II declared a holy war in the East. Called for this crusade to help the Byzantines, to assert his leadership in the West, and to unite Christians in western Europe Promised forgiveness of sins and heaven to anyone who fought against them.

The Crusades 1st Crusade- mostly of poor people, including serfs, who lacked supplies, equipment, training. Serfs wanted to escape feudalism. Criminals and debtors joined crusade. Many peasants joined the crusade to gain new lands and riches, as there had been many crop failures in order to escape punishment Many died on the way to Constantinople due to a lack of food, clashes along the way.

The Crusades 1099-crusaders conquered Jerusalem, forced Jews and Muslims to convert to Christianity, leave the city, or die. Saladin & the Muslims conquered Jerusalem and most of Holy Land in 1187. Story of King Richard losing his horse & Saladin not taking advantage – sent him a horse so would not die an ignoble death. True Chivalry!

The Crusades King of England, Richard the Lion-Hearted led 3rd Crusade against Saladin. King Richard and Saladin agreed to a peace treaty. Many new trade routes opened between East and West Europeans would be allowed to safely visit the Holy Land, which would remain under Muslim control.

The Crusades 4th Crusade-crusaders attacked and raid Constantinople Next 68 years, 4 more crusades were fought, but Holy Land remained under Muslim control. Ruined much of the land thru which they traveled. Many that returned home lost their horses and money. , the city they had originally come to protect Many never returned, leaving western Europe with many widows and fatherless children.

Farming Improvements: Horses could plow twice as much as an oxen in a day. The 3 Field System emerges. Example: Field 1: 200 acres for a winter crop such as wheat or rye. Field 2: 200 acres for a spring crop such as oats, barley, peas, or beans. Field 3: 200 acres lay fallow for animals to graze. X Enables people to use 2/3 of their 600 acres of farmland instead of just 1/2.

Revival of Learning Poets began using vernacular, or everyday language of their homeland. Dante Alighieri-The Divine Comedy (1321) -- Italian Geoffery Chaucer-The Canterbury Tales (1387-1400) -- English Christine de Pisan-The City of Ladies (1405) – French These writers brought literature to the people. a time when serious scholars and writers were writing in Latin

Warm up Knights Manor Chivalry Vernacular Black Death Serf Fief Vassal Crusades Peasant legally tied to land Grant of land to a nobleman Man who served a lord in military capacity Plague that killed ½ of western Europe Agricultural estate ran by a lord Knight’s code of conduct Language of regular people Member of heavily armed calvary 8 military expeditions carried out to free the Holy Land

Early 800s- 7 small Anglo-Saxon kingdoms throughout the Britain. Invaders from various regions in Europe landed on English shores. 800’s - Danish Vikings invaded Alfred the Great, king from 871-899, united the kingdoms of Britain under one rule, calling it England

England Develops Fight! Champion: Harold Godwinson-Anglo-Saxon Challenger: William duke of Normandy Oct. 14, 1066 -- the Normans and Saxons fought the Battle of Hastings Harold killed, Normans won a decisive victory. Became known as William the Conqueror William grants fiefs to 200 Norman Lords in exchange for a pledge of a loyalty.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtGoBZ4D4_E

England Develops King Henry II-1154 to 1189. Henry strengthened the royal courts of justice by sending royal judges to every part of England at least once a year. Introduced the use of the jury (He is a descendent of William the conqueror.) She was a wife to two kings and a mother to two kings The Shire’s Reeve becomes ‘Sheriff’. They collected taxes, settled lawsuits, and punished crimes. A jury in medieval Europe was a group of loyal people—usually 12 neighbors of the accused—who answered a royal judges questions about the facts of a case.

England Develops King Henry was followed by Richard the Lion-Hearted. His younger brother John followed him. John was a bad king. Forced to sign the Magna Carta. Put a legal limit on the king’s powers. “hero” of the Third Crusade. Robin Hood!

England Develops Parliament: House of Commons (Knights & Burgesses) House of Lords (Nobles & Bishops) Parliament was meant to be a tool to weaken the great lords. As time went by, Parliament became strong. Provided a check on royal power. King Edward I needed to raise taxes for a war against the French in 1295. King Edward I summoned two burgesses from every borough and two knights from every county to serve as a Parliament.

Black Death From 1346-1353, an estimated 75-200 million people died to the disease; including 30-60% of Europe’s population Started in Asia, spread to Europe

Origins Originated in Mongolia’s Gobi desert Moved along the Silk Road to Black Sea Bacteria carried by fleas, lived on black rats Major trade/commercial cities were good hosts Sicily in 1347, England 1348, culminating in Russia 1352 Unstoppable Force

WHY? Ignorance Surrounded Cause and Cure Europeans were Frantic Blames Alignment of Planets Infected Clothing, Humans God’s Wrath aimed at Sin Cures/Remedies Pomanders Mixture of Molasses & Chopped Snake Repentance Flagellants

How it was Transmitted                                                                                                                                            Yersinia pestis seen at 2000x magnification. This bacterium, carried and spread by fleas, is the cause of the various forms of the disease plague