The European World
Middle Ages (Medieval Period) - time of instability in Europe Medieval Religion - Roman Catholic Church governed spiritual and daily life of Christians
Around the year of 1000 A.D., Europe’s economy entered a period of new growth The growth of cities and trade led to… 1. New Middle Class- social class between the wealthy and the poor (merchants, traders, artisans, etc.) 2. Revived Money Economy (away from barter) 3. Breakdown of Feudal System
Feudalism - political/economic system - created by Europeans for protection
The King -Power -complete control -owned all the land -leased land to Barons (aka Lords, Nobles) -Service -none required
Barons (Nobles) -Power -complete control over land leased -created own justice system, money -set taxes -Service -swear oath to King -serve on royal council -pay rent -provide King with knights for military -provide lodging/food for King
Knights -Power -given land and divided rest to peasants -kept as much for own use -Service -provide military service -protect baron/family -protect manor
Peasants -Power -none/no rights -not allowed to leave manor -lifelong servitude -no education -Service -provide free labor, food, service when demanded
Manor - large estate - produced everything a feudal society needed for survival
The Crusades - were a series of wars where the Christians of Europe tried to retake control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land- from the Muslims What were the ‘Crusades’ also known as?
Jerusalem - Muslims from Turkey took control of the city - refused Christian pilgrims into the area *The Pope was contacted for help and gathered an army
*Jerusalem was important to a number of religions during the Middle Ages Jews - site of original temple to God built by King Solomon Muslims - Muhammad ascended to heaven Christians - Christ was crucified and rose again
Crusades were fought between the armies of Europe- mostly the Holy Roman Empire- and the Muslims who controlled Jerusalem.
Were the Christians successful in removing the Muslims from Turkey (Turks) from Jerusalem? What impact on Europe did the Crusades have?
King John (1215) - King of England - imposed heavy taxes - forced by nobles to sign the Magna Carta
Magna Carta (‘Great Charter’) - granted legal rights to nobles “No freeman shall be arrested or imprisoned or dispossessed or…in anyway harmed…except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land” -Magna Carta, 1215
‘Black Death’ (1300’s) - Bubonic plague that brought death to one third of Europe’s population - carried by fleas on rats - caused starvation, riots, economic collapse, loss of religious faith