1. The Early Middle Ages

2. The Middle Ages
Middle Ages = European history between the fall of the Roman Empire (476) and the Modern Era (1450)
Also called the Medieval Period (“Medium” is Latin for Middle; “aevum” is Latin for age)
Early Middle Ages = 500 – 1000 C.E.
High Middle Ages = 1000 – 1300 C.E.
Late Middle Ages = 1300 – 1500 C.E.

3. 4 Horsemen of the Appocalypse
The Middle Ages
Some believed that
were also the times of the
4 Horsemen of the Appocalypse
pestilence, war, famine, & death

4. Political Influences Dark Ages Early Middle Ages =
Instability after Rome’s fall
Lawlessness, corruption, political assassinations, & starvation
No national government; local regional lords held the power
Lords controlled estates through feudalism
Constant fear of plunderers and robbers
High inflation and low trade
Dark Ages
Early Middle Ages =
C.E.

5. Religious Influences
Christianity spread throughout Europe by the 4th Century
Church established a hierarchy
parishes = local communities headed by a priest
bishopric = several parishes
Cathedral in Exeter, England

6. Dark Ages Religious Influences
Catholic Church filled the gap left by no strong leaders
Preserved literacy & the classics
Controlled all aspects of medieval life
Maintained some semblance of civilized living

7. Religious Influences 590 - Pope Gregory Increased Pope’s power
Governed large territory around Rome
Encouraged the growth of Monasticism
Nunneries
Helped spread Christianity to Eastern Europe & the Slavs
Religious Influences

8. Religious Influences 500-800: Catholic Church debated several issues
Was Jesus flesh, spirit or a combination of both?
Use of relics – bones/objects connected with saints

9. Religious Influences
The Eastern Church disagreed with using relics and images.
They were iconoclasts = image breakers
Monks white-washed images of Jesus & the saints

10. Romans believed that Rome should be the head of the Church because the apostle Peter spent his last years in Rome.
Byzantines didn’t accept Rome’s leadership of the Catholic Church
Religious Influences
Schism = separation
- Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek & Russian)
- Western Catholic Church (Roman)

11. Jesus Christ giving Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven
Jesus Christ giving Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Catholic doctrine says that Jesus made Saint Peter the first pope. This established a link between Jesus and the papacy. The pope is viewed as the apostles’ heir. This doctrine gave the papacy tremendous power. The advantages taken by certain popes of this and other doctrines was later criticized by many Christian reformers.
Fresco by Perugino Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City, Italy/Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York

12. Power of the Church Role of Faith People were religious
Believed church
represented God and
decided who went to
Heaven or Hell
Power and Wealth
Church was Europe’s largest landowner
Center of Learning
Church main center of learning
Church officials usually only people that could read or write

13. Crusades Christian Holy War against Muslims (Moors)
Turks overtook Jerusalem in 11th Century
1095 Pope Urban II called on all Christians to unite and fight the Muslims (Constantinople)
Crusade = War of the Cross

14. Effects of Crusades New Ideas: Zero Silk Rice Spices Coffee Perfume
Cotton Cloths
Mirrors
Increased trade with the Middle East
Growth of Intolerance
Persecution of Jews and Muslims
Persecution of Christians by Muslims

15. Crusades
You decide to go on a crusade after hearing the Pope’s sermon. List your reasons for going.
What would it be like to go on a crusade in an age when you would have to travel on foot or horseback and by sailing boat, and when there were no modern roads, radio, phone or tv?
Design your own crusader banner and shield.

16. Political Influences Kingdom of the Franks
Only 1 of the Germanic states that lasted
510 C.E. – Established by Clovis
Clovis = 1st Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity

17. Political Influences Charles Martel defeated the Muslims
732 C.E. – Battle of Tours
** Stopped Muslim conquest of Northern Europe

18. Carolingian Empire (768 – 814)
Charlemagne = Charles Martel’s grandson
Intelligent, fierce warrior, strong statesman
Created Missi Dominici = king’s messengers
Strengthened Frankish military
Carolingian Renaissance
Renaissance = rebirth
Established monastic and palace schools
Renewed interest in Latin & Greek culture
Political Influences

19. 800: Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III
1st Roman Emperor since 476
Symbolized the emergence of the Middle Ages ( )
Blended Roman, Christian, & Germanic elements
A Germanic king was crowned by a Roman pope (spiritual leader of western Christendom)

20. Carolingnian Collapse
814: Charlemagne died
Charlemagne’s grandsons fought over the empire
843 = Treaty of Verdun
- Heirs divided Carolingian Empire
East (Germany), West (France), & Middle Kingdom (Alsace Lorraine)
Alsace Lorraine fought over for centuries
Local nobles gained power
Carolingian Empire began to crumble

21. Accomplishments of Charlemagne
Charlemagne instituted the same reforms, creating a common identity in people from eastern Germany to southern Spain.
Unified currency
Spread of Christianity
Education for rich and poor

22. Political Influences
Islamic
9th & 10th Centuries = Another wave of Barbarian Invasions

23. The Vikings Political Influences Germanic tribes from Scandinavia
Raided Northern Europe 9th-11th Centuries
Fierce warriors
Greatly Feared
Called Barbarians
Sacked towns, destroyed churches, raped, and pillaged

24. The Vikings Political Influences Scandinavia Harsh land Scarce food
Clan warfare
Built long ships = Dragon Ships
Sailed up European rivers and attacked far inland

25. Vikings established inland bases
Launched several raids from these points

26. The Vikings Political Influences Established settlements Kiev = (Rus)
Normandy (France)
Jorvik (Britain)

27. The Vikings Political Influences
Viking long ships were narrow & fierce
Enabled them to navigate narrow inland European rivers

28. Religious Influences The Vikings
Conversion to Christianity made them a part of the European civilization

29. Political Influences Kievan Rus
Late 8th Century: Vikings attacked Slavic villages south of the Baltic Sea
Vikings dominated the area
Natives called the Vikings the Rus
Kiev became a major trade center
Both trade partner and enemy of the Byzantines
Political Influences

30. Political Influences Vladimir I (980) Very war like Kievan ruler
Invited missionaries from Judaism, Islam and Christianity to offer reasons for conversion
Married the Byzantine emperor’s sister
Brought Christianity and Greco-Roman civilization to Russia
Political Influences

31. Yaroslav I (1010-1054) Political Influences
Created a Russian law code based on Justinian’s Code.
Instituted a Golden Age of Kievan Russia. Built churches and a new capital city.
Allied Russia with the rest of Europe by marrying his children to European rulers.

35. Manorialism Lord/Nobles house and peasants living in the
surrounding area to work
Manor completely self-sufficient
Varied in sized and number per noble

36. Farming In the Middle Ages
Three-field system
Farm animals often small due to lack of food and bad weather
Famine was normal
Long hours out in the field
Men and women worked side by side
Small farm animals normally stayed inside the house

37. Mongol Empire Political Influences
Genghiz Khan – Conquered China in early 1200s
Kublai Khan – Extended Mongol control over most of Asia, Russia and eastern Europe in Hungary. Traded extensively with the West. Entertained Marco Polo.
Pax Mongolia – time of peace and prosperity during Mongolian rule
Political Influences

38. Mongols Political Influences Superb horsemen Covered 120 miles a day
Cut their horse’s leg and drank the blood if thirsty
Invented the stirrup
Ride and shoot arrows
Greatly feared
“Barbaric”
Political Influences

39. Largest land empire in the world
Political Influences