1. The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe

2. The Dark Ages (?)
On a blank piece of paper, draw a mind map. Put the words “Dark Ages” in the middle.
After looking at the following images, write words or phrases on lines coming out from “Dark Ages” relating to feelings of decay and disorder:
3.2B
3.2C
3.2E
3.2F

3. What do you think?
Now, why do you think that in the early 15th century, some scholars referred to the early Middle Ages as the “Dark Ages?” Write your response on the back of your mind map.

4. The Franks Germanic people, living along the banks of the Rhine river
Society: small groups - loyal to kin

5. Medieval Europe: Clovis
481 - one of the groups chose Clovis as ruler
Clovis ambitious, self-interested, cruel
Murdered kinsmen if thought to be competition
Was a pagan - kept losing battles
Wife was Christian - Clovis converted and won his next battle
Conversion unified his kingdom and gave him support from the Pope, the Church, and Christian Romans living among Franks

6. Medieval Europe: After Clovis
Frankish Kings who followed Clovis were poor leaders
Next powerful ruler after Clovis – Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
Charlemagne had two main goals:
Unite all of western Europe under his power
Convert all Germanic people to Christianity

7. Medieval Europe: The Rise of Charlemagne
Saw himself as a soldier of Christ
Set out to meet his objectives through
war
Known as cruel and brutal:
Fought pagans in north
Fought Muslims of Spain in south
According to his secretary, Einhard, in 782, after a Saxon revolt, he had 4,500 Saxon rebel leaders beheaded in one day

8. Medieval Europe: The Rise of Charlemagne
In the end, his goals largely met; he almost doubled the size of his kingdom and was more powerful than any ruler western Europe had seen since the time of the Roman Empire
Christmas Day, 800, Pope Leo III placed a crown on Charlemagne’s head, declaring him the new Holy Roman Emperor.

9. Charlemagne’s Rise to Power
Background on Franks:
Germanic People
Lived along Rhine River
Loyal to kin
Clovis converted to Christianity in 481
Charlemagne’s
Created large empire made of self-sufficient manors
Counts kept order in his kingdom
Made Aachen a new center for learning

10. Charlemagne’s Rise to Power
Steps to Charlemagne’s Rise to Power:
Step 1: Converted Germans to Christianity through war.
Step 2: Prevented Muslims from expanding in Europe
Step 3: Brutally put down a Saxon revolt
Charlemagne: large, heavy man with mustache & bright blue eyes. Said to be 6 ‘ 3 ½ “ tall
“God Himself has made me king”
“By authority of the Church, I crown thee Holy Roman Emperor”

11. Life Under Charlemagne
People taught in church to obey Charlemagne
Empire organized in manors, with counts watching over them. Counts had three main jobs:
Maintain a small army loyal to Charlemagne
Collect taxes
Settle disputes

12. Life Under Charlemagne
Minstrels wandered from manor to manor performing songs that glorified Charlemagne and his empire – helped hold empire together by providing a sense of unity
Most people could not read or write. Charlemagne made his palace at Aachen a new center for learning. Children of royal officials trained to work in church or palace. Paid scholars to come teach at this school.

13. Death of Charlemagne Charlemagne died in 814
His three grandsons divided the kingdom into three parts. This eventually weakened the empire and contributed to its collapse
Geneology of Charlemagne

14. The Vikings
Also called Norsemen – from Scandinavian lands of northern Europe
Seafaring
Lived in small villages on coastlines
In their language viking = pirate
Traders and explorers as well as raiders
Used large, dragon carved ships – very intimidating

15. Viking Raids Who were the vikings?
Lifestyle: based on sea; viking = pirate; a-viking=to go on overseas adventure; both sexes wore long hair; married women respected
Government: tribal units ruled by a jarl
Values: culture of war; blood feuds common
Education: not important
Religion: worshiped many gods, used crop and animal sacrifices

16. Viking Raids Where did they raid and why? From Norway And Denmark
Coastal villages throughout Europe, plundering, killing, burning & taking prisoners
Europe weak after Charlemagne’s empire fell apart
Viking longships and weaponry intimidated people of Europe
Vikings were experienced sailors, traders & expolorers

17. Viking Raids What was their impact on Europe?
Kept many Europeans in a state of terror
Europeans looked to local lords to protect them
Contributed to the development of feudalism
Viking culture influenced some aspects of life in Europe
“We could stop the Viking Raids if we had a strong central government”

18. Medieval Castles Early castles – motte and bailey
Generally uncomfortable and crowded
All earth and wood
12th & 13th centuries moved to stone walls
Stronger, lasted longer, kept castle warmer in winter
Complete description detail for notes using overhead transparency

19. Why Feudalism?
People needed protection in war-like culture they lived in without a strong central government
Manor = castle and farming estate of feudal lord
Feudalism=system in which services were given in exchange for land
Based on system of hierarch – justified by belief that God intended some people to be superior to others.

20. Structure of Feudalism

21. Monarchs
Monarchs – weaker after Charlemagne, but still considered high authority
Gradually lost power to lords and began taking on position of powerful lord of more than one manor

22. Lords and Nobles Lived on manors in castles Included powerful clergy
Hunted, defended manor, oversaw serfs, and settled legal disputes

23. Vassals Nobles but less powerful than lords
Trained knights who began studying art of warfare at age of 7
Promised to follow code of chivalry
Lord gave portion of land to vassal in exchange for loyalty and service
Lord also promised to take care of knight

24. Peasants
Some peasants were free. They would pay lord for use of land and could leave if they wished.
Most were serfs. Serfs were bound to land – essentially prisoners. Not allowed to move from land, own land, or even marry without permission of lord.
Lords couldn’t make serfs fight and could not force serfs off of land.

25. William the Conqueror & the Norman Invasion: Background
Death of Edward the Confessor:
1066 – Edward the Confessor, King of England, died without any heirs
He had promised his throne to the Duke William of Normandy (French)
Harold Godwinsson’s Claim to the English Throne:
Anglo-Saxon assembly chose Harold Godwinsson, Edward’s brother-in-law, instead (English)
Harold Godwinsson had promised Edward he would support William, but broke his promise

26. Harold Hardrada’s Claim to the English Throne
Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, also had rights to throne and wanted it (Norwegian)
His love of fighting (berserking) motivates him to attack England
Harold Hadrada described as:
The word berserk has survived from the Norsemen’s language. A man who went berserk was seized by a battle-madness far beyond courage; he killed and killed, without mercy, reason or fear, and did not stop until there was nobody left to kill, or until he fell dead himself…Harold, in one word, was berserk: the most celebrated, feared, and admired berserker of that century.

27. Battle of Stamford Bridge, September 1066
Harold of England met Harold Hardrada of Norway at Stamford Bridge, Sept Hardrada was killed, his army defeated

28. William sneaks in
Two days after the Battle at Stamford Bridge, William set sail for England across English channel
Harold’s men, tired from battle, had to march 250 miles south & try to replenish themselves before William got there

29. The Battle of Hastings, October 1066
Harold’s army relies on two-handed battle-ax
William’s army uses flurries of arrows
Normans win by faking a retreat and then turning and attacking Saxons

30. Importance of Battle of Hastings
Norman culture dramatically changed Saxon traditions
French words blended with Anglo-Saxon language
Established the feudal system in England
Increased the power of the English monarch

31. Shift in Power to Monarch
Monarchy more powerful after William, nobles didn’t like it.
King Richard: used large sums of money to finance crusade. During return trip, kidnapped. English people forced to pay large ransom to free him. Richard eventually died in battle. Younger brother, John assumed throne in 1199

32. King John and the Magna Carta
King John, you have angered us by:
Raising taxes & forcing us to buy goods at high prices
Ordering us to build your palaces
Demanding money for your war with France and losing land
Engaging in a quarrel with Pope

33. King John and the Magna Carta
King John’s thoughts
“if I sign this document…I will be giving power to the lords and the English people”
King John’s Personality
assumed throne after death of brother, Richard
nicknamed “Lackland” because he inherited no land from his father
cruel, ignorant, and unpopular
nicknamed “Softsword” because poor military leader

34. King John and the Magna Carta
“Great Charter” limited monarch’s power by mandating:
No imprisonment without jury trial
Consultation with lords before taxing
No interference with Church’s authority
King had to choose competent officials who understood and obeyed the law themselves

35. Your Assignment
Create a wanted poster for one of the individuals presented in this powerpoint.
The poster should list grievances against the individual.
The poster should list the benefit of either capturing or forcing this person to do something to rectify the situation he/she has created.
The poster must include a drawing of the individual.