1. Review
Of the
Middle Ages
Mr. Wells H.E. Winkler Middle School

2. Setting the Stage Last year, your last unit was the Middle Ages
This power point will review information from that unit.

3. Review of Middle Ages
Western Europe was attacked from the North by the Vikings
The Magyars from Hungary attacked from the East
The Muslims from North Africa attacked from the South

4. A New Social Order: Feudalism
As a result of the many invasions, people turned to local rulers for protection
Feudalism was a political system that stressed alliances of mutual protection

5. The Manor System Manor System was a basic economic arrangement
in which the Lord gives land/protection to peasant
in exchange for peasants working the land
Life on the Manor
- 5 to 30 families
- self-sufficient community
- peasant & serfs paid a tax on everything. A tithe was a
church tax amounting to 1/10 of their income
- peasant families slept on dirt floors
- peasants never traveled more than 25 miles outside of
manor in their lifetime
- peasants needed permission from the lord to marry

6. The Manor System

8. Parts of a Castle

9. Attacking a Castle
Catapults - a large machine used to throw objects, often rocks, arrows, pots of fire, or even spears, at a castle. This could destroy the castle walls and buildings

10. Attacking a Castle
Trebuchet - Similar to the catapult in that it was designed to throw large objects but it was more efficient than a catapult because it could be built faster and at less cost. Yet it could throw heavier objects even further.

11. Attacking a Castle
Battering Rams: They were large mechanical objects, often on wheels that were used to ram the walls and doors of a castle in an attempt to break them down. Often times battering rams were part of a siege tower.

12. Attacking a Castle
Siege Towers: Were wooden towers often built at the site of the siege. They were built to the height of the castle walls and were on wheels so they could be rolled up to the wall. Then the attackers could cross right over into the castle.

13. Power of the Church
Feudalism created divisions among the people of Christendom
The church brought people together (unified them). It gave them hope & salvation and the promise of a better life after death.
The head of the church was the Pope
The clergy fell under the Pope’s authority
Nuns
Priests
Bishops
Monks, etc.

14. Law of the Church
All Christians were subject to Canon Law(system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the authorities of the Catholic Church)
Failure to follow this strict law could lead to excommunication – banishment from the church…no one was safe!!

16. The Crusades
A series of “Holy Wars” fought to regain control of the Holy City of Jerusalem and the area around Constantinople
The Pope wanted to re-unite eastern and western Christendom

17. Pope Urban II
Called on Europeans to drive Muslims Turks from the Byzantine Empire and to also reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem in the process.

18. Why did Christians go on Crusades?
The kings in Europe and the Church wanted to get rid of knights – The Crusades gave Knights a chance to use their fighting skills.
Young sons of nobles looking for land, positions in society and adventure and the possibility of getting rich!
Merchants profiting by leasing ships and giving loans
For peasants it meant the chance to escape their dreary life in the feudal system.

19. 4 Crusades
1st – Europeans capture Jerusalem from Muslims on July 15, 1099
2nd – Saladin recaptures Jerusalem in 1187
3rd – Muslims retain Holy Land, Christians allowed to freely visit
4th – Knights did not reach Holy Land. They sacked Constantinople

20. Saladin

21. Results of the Crusades
Thousands left home and traveled to faraway lands
Merchants expanded trade with Asia
Power of the Pope and Church decreased (People start to question the Church)
Towns and Universities are created in Europe

22. The Black Death

23. The Famine of
By 1300 Europeans were farming almost all the land they could cultivate.
A population crisis developed (over population).
Climate changes in Europe produced three years of crop failures
Starvation & poverty led to disease

24. The Black Death By 1347, the bubonic plague swept across Europe
The disease was fleas that were on rats
One-Third of the population was eliminated
The Black Death had tremendous effect on medieval life.

25. The Black Death

26. The Disease Cycle Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria.
multiply in
flea’s gut.
Human is infected!
Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound.
Flea’s gut clogged with bacteria.

27. The Plague Reaches Constantinople

28. The Mortality Rate
35% - 70%
25,000,000 dead !!!

29. The 100 Years’ War When? 1347-1453 Why? British occupied French lands
Who? Many English and French kings… but also Joan of Arc
She captures Orleans and the French begin their “Reconquest”
She was burned at stake in 1432

30. Joan of Arc

31. Significance of 100 Years’ War
Inspired nationalism in England & France but also several other areas in Europe
New weapons were introduced that took the place of feudal armies
The role of peasants were changed by creating standing armies for the first since the Western Roman Empire