1. The Middle Ages

2. Dark Ages - Video

3.  Take a few minutes to answer the question and then we will discuss this in class.  If our American government disappeared today, how would our lives be different tomorrow? Next month? Next year?

4.  What is the Middle Ages?  What caused the Middle Ages?  Changes that occurred during the Middle Ages

5. 1. The Middle Ages: What is it? a. Time period that existed between the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. b. Lasts roughly 1000 years, 500-1500 c. Other names: The Dark Ages or medieval period. d. Often seen as a very bleak and dangerous period

7. 2. Causes of the Middle Ages a. Fall of Rome was caused by invading Germanic tribes

8. b. Invasions led to: i.Disruption of Trade: Merchant trade collapsed and Europe’s economic centers were destroyed. Money also became scarce. ii.Downfall of cities: Cities were abandoned as centers of administration.

9. iii.Europe became rural: Roman cities left without strong leadership iv.Decline of learning: Germanic invaders could not read or write. Learning became less important as people moved to rural areas. v.Loss of a common language: Latin changed as Germanic people mixed with Roman population. vi.Loss of established government: Germanic tribes did not have written laws nor an orderly government for ruling purposes

10.  Along with shifting boundaries, the entire concept of government changed.  Loyalty to public government and written law had unified Roman society.  Family ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship in a public state, held Germanic society together.  Unlike Romans, Germanic peoples lived in small communities that were governed by unwritten rules and traditions.  The Roman Empire was too large and too different to adjust to the Germanic traditions and style. Chaos and devastation erupted.

11. 3. How did the Middle Ages Change Europe (Effects)? a. New Germanic Kingdoms Emerge (Holy Roman Empire) b. Rise of the feudal system in Europe

12.  The feudal system was based on rights and obligations. In exchange for military protection and other services, a lord, or landowner, granted land called a fief.  The person receiving a fief was called a vassal. Feudalism depended on the control of land.  The Feudal Pyramid - The structure of feudal society was much like a pyramid. At the peak reigned the king. Next came the most powerful vassals—wealthy landowners such as nobles and bishops.  Serving beneath these vassals were knights. Knights were mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lords’ lands in exchange for fiefs.  At the base of the pyramid were landless peasants who toiled in the fields.

13.  Draw the Feudal system in your notes.  This may be a Fill-in-the-Blank TEST question

14.  Read pages 233-234  “The Manorial System”

15. c. The power of the Christian (Catholic) Church grows rapidly d. The power of the pope(s) grows rapidly e. Europe became rural (safer?) f. No major emphasis on learning

16. 3. Effects of the Middle Ages f. New languages replace Latin g. Early signs of modern European countries start to appear (England & France)