1. The Rise of Europe
Chapter 7

2. The Beginning What marks the beginning of the Middle Ages?
Fall of Rome
After the fall we see political, social, and economic decline
Europe was cut off from the rest of the world
The culture of this period
Medieval civilization

3. Germanic Kingdoms Various Germanic kingdoms set up
Goths, Vandals, Saxons, and Franks
Different from Romans > they were farmers and herders
Divided Western Europe into smaller kingdoms
New power emerging across the Mediterranean
Religion of Islam
Battle of Tours
Charles Martel > Frankish king > stops Muslim advance into France

5. Charlemagne’s Achievements
Age of Charlemagne
King of the Franks > Charlemagne > Charles the Great
Reunites much of western Roman empire
Charlemagne’s Achievements

6. New Waves of Invaders Magyars Vikings Settled in present-day Hungary
Controlled much of Eastern Europe
Vikings
Home > Scandinavia?
Norway, Denmark, and Sweden
Farmers, expert sailors, destructive raiders, traders, & explorers

7. Feudalism Medieval society > network of mutual obligations
Arose out of the need for protection
Loosely organized system of rule in which powerful local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords (vassals)
Varied from place to place

8. Mutual Obligations Feudal contract Exchange of pledges
Vassal granted a fief (estate) which included peasants
Lord promised vassal protection for his loyalty & military service

9. Society Monarch (King or Queen) Powerful lords Vassals (lesser lords)
Dukes, Counts, Barons, etc.
Vassals (lesser lords)
Could be Knights as well
Pledged absolute loyalty to lord above him

10. Knights and Nobles Lords battled with each other Knights (Vassals)
Mounted warrior >usually fought on horseback
Training difficult
Mock battles > tournaments
Defended castle (home of the lord)

11. Noblewomen Took over her husband’s duty when he was off fighting
Inheritance was restricted
Only men could inherit land
Passed from father to eldest son
Could receive land as part of her dowry
Arranged marriages
Learned to read and write

12. Chivalry Code of Chivalry Troubadours Knights code of conduct
Standard for behavior
Bravery, loyalty, fairness in battle, etc.
Troubadours
Wandering musicians > sang about the deeds of knights
Basis for epic stories and poems

13. The Manor: An Economic System
Heart of the medieval economy > manor (lord’s estate)
One or more villages and the surrounding land
Most peasants on manor were serfs (bound to the land)
Tied to the lord through mutual rights and obligations
Farmed the lord’s land in return they were protected
Peasants guaranteed food, housing, and land
Manor > self-sufficient
Everything was produced there that was needed to live
Peasant life was harsh
Long working hours
Poor harvest = starvation
Disease was common