The Middle Ages and High Middle Ages: A Brief Overview Western Europe 500 to 1300 A.D.

Satellite View of Europe

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Part A: Middle Ages I. Foundations of Early Medieval Society A.Old Culture: Greco-Roman (society was influenced by the cultures of the achievements of ancient Greek and Roman Empires) B.New Culture: Germanic tribes invaded and brought their culture with them = a new European civilization arose based on Roman & Germanic values & traditions. C. The Roman Catholic Church held much political power during medieval times

II. Charlemagne’s Empire A. Brought short lived order to Europe in the middle ages B. United Christian lands in W. Europe & alliance with the Catholic Church when crown Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope (Catholic religion was the unifying force in W. Europe) C. Revived Roman culture

Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Pope Crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor: Dec. 25, 800

Charlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses: Treaty of Verdun, 843

D. BUT INVASIONS = END OF CHARLEMAGNE’S EMPIRE 1. Effects: a. Disrupted trade b. Towns declined c. No protection = enter into feudal agreements with land-holding lords who promised them protection. Most of Europe becomes ruled by independent local leaders. d. Manors with castles provided protection from invaders reinforcing the feudal system.

III.Invaders & Influence: A. Angles and Saxons from continental Europe invaded & influenced England B. Magyars from central Asia to Hungary C. Vikings from Scandinavia to Russia D. Muslims invade Spain & halted in 742 at the Battle of Tours

IV. The Feudal System Explained A. Provided social & political structure. B. The Church was a major landholder in the feudal system & very powerful C. A. Feudal Structure 1. Lord: Granter of land. Powerful noble, grants lesser noble land 2. Vassal: Receiver of land. Could divided the land & grant it to others if he wanted 3. Knight: granted land in return for protection & services 4. Serfs: Worked the land like slaves for protection & food.

FeudalismFeudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

V. Manorial System A. Manor System Explained 1. Rigid class structure: everyone had a specific job & place 2. Self- sufficient 3. Peasant Society i. Serfs: could not leave without permission from the Lord ii. Free peasants: Able to travel and move if they wanted to

The Medieval Manor

Carcassonne: A Medieval Castle

Parts of a Medieval Castle

VI. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church 1. Church authority is strong 2. Church more educated; therefore Latin remain the language of the educated (control knowledge); laid foundations for universities in W.E. 3. Missionaries spread religion & Latin language to Germanic tribes 4. Pope anointed the Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor (POLITICAL POWER) 5. Controlled 1/3 of land in Western Europe 6. The Church & parish priests served the social, political, & religious needs of the people

Gothic Architectural Style (do not write) e Pointed arches. e High, narrow vaults. e Thinner walls. e Flying buttresses. e Elaborate, ornate, airier interiors. e Stained-glass windows. “Flying” Buttresses

Oxford University

Part B: The High Middle Ages I.New nation-states emerging: A. England (1066 to 1453): A. England (1066 to 1453): 1. William the Conqueror, leader of the Norman Conquest, united most of England. Conquest, united most of England. 2. Common law & trail by jury had its beginnings during the reign of Henry II. 3. Magna Carta i. King John signed the Magna Carta, limiting the King’s power & gave Parliament the right to regulate taxes

Magna Carta, 1215 (do not write)  King John I   Runnymeade  “Great Charter”  monarchs were not above the law.  kings had to consult a council of advisors.  kings could not tax arbitrarily.

The Beginnings of the British Parliament (do not write)  Great Council:  middle class merchants, townspeople [burgesses in Eng., bourgeoisie in Fr., burghers in Ger.] were added at the end of the 13c.  eventually called Parliament.  by 1400, two chambers evolved: o House of Lords  nobles & clergy. o House of Commons  knights and burgesses.

B. France (987 to 1453): 1. Hugh Capet became king in 987 & his dynasty would expand its control over most of France. 2. The Hundred Years War: England v. France ( ) a. Served as a unifying force for the people of England & France b. The French & English began to develop national identities in their common cause C. Spain (1492 to 1588): 1. Ferdinand & Isabella unified Spain & expelled Muslim Moors 2. Spanish Empire in Western Hemisphere expanded under Philip II.

(1462 to 1505): D. Russia(1462 to 1505): 1.Ivan III (the Great) a.threw off the rule of the Mongols, centralized power in Moscow in the hands of the tsar (czar), and expanded the Russian nation. 2.Ivan IV “Ivan the Terrible” a. nobles rule until he is old enough b. lay the foundation for Russia state c. but is unstable, kills own son 3.Times 3.Times of Troubles = chaos period of disorder Assembly of upper class chose new czar, Michael Romanov, Romanovs rule until 1917

II. Crusades: Papacy sponsored a series of holy wars against Muslim domination of the holy land A. Roots of conflict were complex: 1.Christian-Muslim conflict in Spain dating to Battle of Tours in Byzantine Empire invaded by Turks, need help 3. Rise of Turks in Middle East, (less tolerant than earlier Muslims) 3. Rise of Turks in Middle East, (less tolerant than earlier Muslims) B. Motives of Church & participants were varied: 1. Try to redirect feudal warfare outside of Europe 2. Desire for land 3. Religious fervor, & promise of forgiveness of sin C. Key Events of Crusades: 1. Pope Urban’s speech urging 1st Crusade, The capture of Jerusalem (by Christians) 3. Founding of Crusader states 4. Loss of Jerusalem to Saladin (Muslims) 5. Sack of Constantinople by western Crusaders (4th Crusade)

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade

Christian Crusades: East and West

D. Effects of Crusades: 1. Reduce power of the church & nobles; strengthened monarchs 2. Stimulated trade in the Mediterranean area & the Middle East 3. Legacy of bitterness among Christians, Jews, and Muslims 4. Weakened the Byzantine Empire (shrank), Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

IV. The Plague/Black Death A. Impact of the Black Death: 1. Decline in population & scarcity of labor (1/3 of W. Europe dies) 2. Towns freed from feudal obligations 3. Decline of church influence 4. Disruption of trade