The Middle Ages
Europe’s Geography Diverse landscape, mountains, farmlands, coastal areas Navigable rivers Warmer climate from the - North Atlantic Drift All this in a relatively small area
The Germanic Kingdoms No Cities (small villages) No written laws (customs) A.D. Larger Kingdoms start to take shape The Strongest of these Kingdoms was the Franks In 481, Clovis, King of the Franks took over Gaul (France)
The Germanic Kingdoms In 496, Clovis (a pagan) prayed to the Christian God for a victory…..he won……. On Christmas Day, he and 3,000 of his warriors were baptized Now Clovis had a new ally - The Roman Catholic Church
The Germanic Kingdoms Charles Defeated the Muslims (Moors) at the Battle of Tours (732) keeping them out of Europe (other than Spain) Charles Martel ( )
Charlemagne King of the Franks defeated Lombards in N. Italy Saxons in Germany Muslims in S. France & N. Spain Avars & Slavs in the East
Charlemagne ……then in 800, Pope Leo III called on Charlemagne to help put down a rebellion of Roman Nobles Charlemagne came to the rescue.
Charlemagne On Christmas Day 800, Pope Leo III crowned him, the…. united Christian Europe tied Pope to western leaders began a rife with Eastern Europe
Charlemagne Controlled his huge Empire through nobles and land grants he sent out…. Royal messengers who kept tabs on 200 nobles
Charlemagne Built his capital….. ……Aachen, this was to be the 2nd Rome, and it was here that he established new schools with Latin as the model going forward
Charlemagne “Charles the Great” Central Government Spread Christianity Model for future kingdoms Education Preserved records Blended cultures
Charlemagne Charlemagne dies in 814….. His son “Louis the Pious” rules from , when he died war between his 3 sons breaks out for 2 years
Treaty of Verdun 843 Divides Charlemagne’s empire into three kingdoms This weaken Europe, and the three kingdoms later breakup even further
476 Rome Falls 481 to 511 Clovis 714 to 744 Charles Martel “the Hammer” 747 to 814 Charle magne 843 Treaty of Verdun 1000 Leif Erikson & Vinland
After the Treaty of Verdun Outsiders (Vikings, Moors, etc.) see an opportunity with a weakened Europe Landowners start to become more self- sufficient
KING Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Powerful Lord Lesser Lord You Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Lesser Lord Serf Fiefs Protection Fiefs Protection right to farm Land Labor fees Military money Military money
Feudalism Vocabulary Sheet Feudalism - A political system that provided protection for it’s members. Hierarchy – a group of people organized by rank. Fief – A large feudal estate or farm.
Feudalism Vocabulary Sheet Vassal - A person under the protection of the feudal lord. Knight – An armed soldier who served a lord. Oath of Fealty - an expression of loyalty to one’s lord.
Feudalism Vocabulary Sheet Manor – a castle, fief, or estate of a lord. Serf – A peasant bound to work the land of a lord. Heraldry – designing family coats of arms, recording genealogy. Liege – Superior Lord vassal (# 1 Lord vassal is committed to).
Page – Sent off to learn basic skills and……. Squire – Begin the real training Knight – Held to the highest standard …honorable
Only 3% of Norway is farmable Longships were extremely versatile Worked themselves up into a frenzy before battle Threatened Europe from 900 to 1100