Middle Ages

The Middle Ages: 500 – 1500 The Medieval Period Rise of the Middle Ages Decline of the Roman Empire

Western Europe

Early Middle Ages

Germanic Peoples Roman empire overran by Germanic groups with repeated invasions and constant warfare Breakdown of trade: money became scarce. Cities abandoned – no longer center of economy or administration Population became rural. Decline of literacy – priests and other church officials were the few that were literate. Breakup of unified empire – language began to change. No longer Latin. End of Democracy

Rome Unified by loyalty to public government and written law Orderly government Germanic Family ties and personal loyalty People lived in small communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions Ruled by a Chief who led a band or warriors loyal only to him – not some emperor they’d never seen

European Empire Evolves After the decline of the Roman Empire small kingdoms sprang up all over Europe. The largest and the strongest was controlled by the Franks Lead by Clovis – first Christian king Area that is now France Greatest king was Charlemagne most powerful king in Western Europe encouraged learning

Rise of Charlemagne His father, Pippin, left Charlemagne his Frankish empire when he died in 768 AD. The Franks were already very powerful when Pippin died, but Charlemagne made them more powerful still.PippinempireAD Charlemagne organized a centralized system of governors (counts) throughout his kingdom, sending out men he knew to keep order all over his kingdom, and then sending out other men to check up on the counts. Charlemagne also greatly expanded the size of his kingdom. He conquered France down to the Pyrenees mountains, and even into northern Spain. He crossed the Rhine river and conquered Germany, Switzerland and Austria, even into modern Hungary. To the north, he conquered Belgium. And in 774 AD Charlemagne also conquered the Lombards in northern ItalyHungaryADLombards

Charlemagne on the Rise On Christmas Day, 800, Pope Leo III repaid Charlemagne for defeating the Lombards. As Charlemagne rose from prayer, Leo placed a crown on his head and proclaimed him "Augustus," emperor of the "Holy Roman Empire." The coronation united Christendom under Charlemagne's rule, but it troubled him. If the Pope had the power to crown Charlemagne king, did the Pope also have the right to remove the crown? When Charlemagne named his son as his successor, he presided over the ceremony himself and did not invite the Pope. When Napoleon was about to be crowned Emperor of France in 1804, he took the crown from Pope Pius VII and set it on his head himself.

Feudalism Think of a chess set

Feudalism Based on mutual obligation Military protection Provide knights in times of war service Fiefs – land grants protection

Feudalism Manors The lords estate –  The lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland and protection  Serfs tended the lands, cared for the animals, maintained the estate

Feudalism Manors  Peasants rarely traveled more than 25 miles from the manor  Was home to 15 – 30 families  Self-Sufficient community  Peasants heavily taxed, including a tithe – a church tax of 1/10 their income

High Middle Ages

A violent society  Noble’s constantly fought each other  Defend estates  Seize new territories  Increase wealth  Kept Europe fragmented  Glorification of warriors

The Age of Chivalry  The mounted Knights were the most important part of an Army  Professional solders – main obligation was to serve in battle  Rewarded with land  Devoted lives to war

The Age of Chivalry  Chivalry – a complex set of ideals, demanded that a knight fight bravely in defense of three masters 1. His feudal lord 2.His Heavenly Lord 3.His Lady  Meant to protect the weak and the poor  Be loyal, brave, and courteous

The Age of Chivalry Sons of nobles began training at an early age for knighthood  Page – at 7 they were sent to another lord to be trained  Squire – at 14 they act as a servant to a knight  Knight- at 21 they become a knight and gain experience in local wars and tournaments

The Age of Chivalry Tournaments – mock battles that combined recreation and combat training Fierce and bloody competitions

Castles and Keeps Stone castles were encircled by massive walls and guard towers  Home to lord and lady, their family, knights solders, and servants  A fortress of defense

Castles and Keeps

High Middle Ages By the end of the High Middle Ages Western European nations gained much of the shape by which we know them today They became more stable and began concentrating on establishing stronger political structures

Late Middle Ages

5 major developments of the Late Middle Ages a. The Hundred Years War Fought between the French and English for the French throne Massively destructive Gun powder and heavy artillery

b. The Papal Schism 3 popes Loss of respectability due to political involvements c) The Fall of the Byzantine Empire Turks begin assault on Western boarders

e) Black Death The Bubonic Plague killed 1/3 – ½ of European population d) Famines Climate became colder and rainier Harvests shrank Population doubled Move back to towns