Early Middle Ages 500-1000 Notes

Key Terms/People-Good Stuff to Know for Quest Medieval Serfs Middle Ages Tithe Clovis Chivalry Charles Martel (the Hammer) Monastery Illuminated manuscripts The Franks Saint Benedict Charlemagne Secular Vikings Pope Gregory I Feudalism Carolingian Dynasty Manorialism Fief Vassal

Objectives Students will be able to… Explain how the fall of Rome and the authority of the Church shaped the early Middle Ages. Describe the creation of the Holy Roman Empire.

Europe After Rome

The Fall of Rome Rome united Europe for the first (and only) time Fall of Rome caused many changes Decline of central authority Decline of cities Decline of learning But not in Eastern Europe. Why not?

Decline of Central Authority Why? Empire destroyed Lots of invasions Germanic tribes were loyal to individual leaders

Decline of Central Authority So what? Benefits of empire are lost Education Security Economy Trade

Decline of Cities Why? No jobs No food trade Centers of people and wealth are not safe

Decline of Cities So what? Population shifted to rural areas People become dispersed “Progress” stalls

Decline of Learning Why? Germanic tribes have no written language People focus on farming People are disconnected

Decline of Learning So what? Knowledge of Greek lost Latin changes “Progress” stalls  The Dark Ages

The Church in the Middle Ages:

Expanding Influence of the Church Christian Church has become an important political, economic, spiritual and cultural force in Europe Leading officials of Church were the Pope and Patriarch Banning of heresy (holding beliefs that contradict the official religion) conversion by force Eventually in 11th Century, Church split into two independent branches Eastern Orthodox (Greek) based in Constantinople and Roman Catholic in Rome Christian Church has become an important political, economic, spiritual and cultural force in Europe Leading officials of Church were the bishops of Rome (Pope) and Constantinople (Patriarch) As influence grew, laws were passed to forced people to become Christians and banned heresy (holding beliefs that contradict the official religion) Fines were given against heretics, then harsher penalties and even death Eventually, conversion by force Eventually in 11th Century, Church split into two independent branches Eastern Orthodox (Greek) based in Constantinople and Roman Catholic in Rome

Church Power Grows People turn away from the secular Local priests much closer than distant kings Missionaries convert the Germans Teach them writing

Monks and Education Monasteries (places where monks live) preserve learning No one else could read No one else had time Mostly translation, few new advances Also translated Arabic works Eventually create Europe’s universities

You scratch my back… I’ll scratch yours…. Church was granted favors by Roman Emperors / Kings (land, exemption from taxes, immunity in courts, positions in courts) and in return the Church would endorse kings to help secure their rule Kings looked to Church to supply educated administrators to help run kingdoms and in return kings would enforce laws that prohibited other religions

Monasticism and Saints Monks were people who gave up worldly possessions and devote themselves to a religious life Established between 400 -700 communities called monasteries which became centers of education, literacy and learning Strict codes of monastic conduct called Rule of St. Benedict Saints- one who performs miracles that are interpreted as evidence of a special relationship with God St. Augustine- wrote “Confessions” which discussed ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and the role of free will which shaped monastic tradition and the influence of Church Rule of St. Benedict- years probation, solemn vows of obedience, chastity, poverty and silence, strict rules, 5-6 hours of prayer, 4 hours of spiritual reading, 5 hours of labour

The Holy Roman Empire

Merovingians Merovingian is derived from the leader of the tribe of Franks First dynasty after the Romans and ruled for 300 years Leader in 481 CE was Clovis I- he united Frankish tribes and expanded territory His conversion to Christianity won him support from the Church Clovis I wrote Salic Law - assigned a specific financial value to everyone and everything; concept of trial options (trial by oath and trial by ordeal) Merovingian's founded and built many monasteries, churches and palaces and spread Christianity throughout Western Europe IMPACT = Eventually dynasty declined as kings relaxed power and became more like figure heads whereas the real power lay with the powerful officials and leading aristocracy Merovingian is derived from the leader of the tribe of Franks First dynasty after the Romans and ruled for 300 years Leader in 481 CE was Clovis I- he united Frankish tribes and made a large fighting force in Northern Gaul, drastically expanding his territory His conversion to Christianity won him support from the Church Clovis I wrote Salic Law which assigned a specific financial value to everyone and everything and in the case of a crime, the guilty had to pay the victim for losses; as well trial options (trial by oath and trial by ordeal) Merovingian's founded and built many monasteries, churches and palaces and spread Christianity throughout Western Europe Eventually dynasty declined as kings relaxed power and became more like figure heads whereas the real power lay with the powerful officials and leading aristocracy He wrote Salic Law which assigned a specific financial value to everyone and everything and in the case of a crime, the guilty had to pay the victim for losses; as well trial options such as (trial by oath= people of status will swear in defence of accused) and trial by ordeal (accused to perform a physical test to show innonnce (believed that God would protect and help the innocent)

A Frankish Dynasty Franks were one of the Germanic tribes Clovis converted to Christianity Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) Unites the Franks Wins an important battle Battle of Tours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztoNqerMrd8

Byzantine Empire in 6th Century

Carolingians Rise of aristocratic Charles Martel who dominated Frankish kingdom in 8th century He confiscated land given to Church and began Church reforms that would restore spirituality to clerical life His son Pepin the Short continued Church reforms and eventually with the support of reformed Church, removed last Merovingian king from throne Established the Carolingian dynasty, named to protect the papacy and establish the pope and bishops are the makers of kings Greatest legacy was Charles the Great, or Charlemagne Rise of aristocratic Charles Martel who dominated Frankish kingdom in 8th century Solidified claim with military victories in pushing Muslims south and establishing Frankish control of southern Gaul He confiscated land given to Church and began Church reforms that would restore spirituality to clerical life His son Pepin the Short continued Church reforms and eventually with the support of reformed Church, removed last Merovingian king from throne Established the Carolingian dynasty, named to protect the papacy and establish the pope and bishops are the makers of kings Greatest legacy was Charles the Great, or Charlemagne

Carolingian Dynasty Ruled by the Franks Centered in France Started by Charlemagne in 800 Lasted until about 900

The Holy Roman Empire & Charlemagne Charlemagne (Charles the Great) who was a military general and restored Pope Leo III who had been exiled In return, Leo placed a crown on Charlemagne and named him the “Emperor of the Romans” which secured the relationship between Frankish kings and the papacy Charlemagne became the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a dynasty that would last for more than 700 years Charlemagne- imposed order on empire through the Church and state Ordered the standardization of Latin, textbooks, manuals for preaching, schools for clergy and people, new form of handwriting All these promoted education and scholars and produced a precise written language (Latin) Iberbia- (present day Spain) had privileged class of estate owners called seniores; strong ties to Church; southern Spain conquered by Moors (Islamic people from North Africa) and clashes between Christians and Muslims, who were called infidels (Latin meaning unfaithful)

Charlemagne: 742-814 Charles the Hammer’s grandson Expands the Frankish Empire Largest empire in Europe since Rome Reunited Western Europe Enforces the law (good at running his empire) Spreads Christianity Revived learning Builds roads, schools, churches, etc.

Coronation Charlemagne saves the pope from a mob in Rome Pope crowns him as Holy Roman Emperor on Dec. 25, 800 Powerful political force (both him, and the church!)

Charlemagne’s Legacy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djctvp_pC4o Son: Louis the Pious “an ineffective ruler” Three grandsons Fight amongst themselves Divide into three kingdoms Central authority declines again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djctvp_pC4o

Charlemagne’s Castle in Aachen, Germany

Treaty of Verdun, 843

A Contradiction The Holy Roman Empire is not… Holy Roman An Empire

The Church & The Holy Roman Empire After the death of Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Empire was the strongest kingdom that arose from the ruins of his empire. When Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor in 800, he unknowingly set the stage for future conflicts between popes and emperors. Otto I, a German leader, allies with the church and creates the Holy Romany Empire. A crown from the Holy Roman Empire.

The Church & The Holy Roman Empire Feudalism and the manor system created divisions among people. Shared beliefs in the teachings of the Church bonded people together. Priests and other religious officials administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. Kings and peasants were subject to canon law, or the law of the Church, in matters such as marriage and religious practices.

Invaders

Invaders Muslims Magyars Vikings Come from central Asia Settle in Hungary Vikings From Scandinavia Settle in Russia and England (Angles and Saxons)

Effects of Invaders Strengthen feudalism Disrupts trade Really need those knights Manor walls are helpful Disrupts trade No strong central government, so no strong army But many invaders, so they need one Invent a new type of government: feudalism A social/governmental structure based on loyalty and land