1. THE MIDDLE AGES
Middle Creek High School

2. MIDDLE AGES – 3 MAJOR TIME PERIODS
Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
High Middle Ages: – 1250
Late Middle Ages:

3. MIDDLE AGES – 3 MAJOR TIME PERIODS
Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000
Dark Ages!!
Decline of the Roman Empire
Invasion of Germanic Tribes
Cultural, Social and Political Decline
Drastic Decrease in Population

4. MIDDLE AGES – 3 MAJOR TIME PERIODS
High Middle Ages: – 1250
Rapid Increase in Population
Barbarian Invasions Stopped
The Rise of Chivalry
Crusades
Weather & Prosperity Improved
Great Schism – Formal Split of Church

5. MIDDLE AGES – 3 MAJOR TIME PERIODS
Late Middle Ages: – 1500
Prosperity and Population Growth Halted!
Bubonic Plague ( )
Great Famine ( )
Fall of the Byzantine Empire 1453
Hundred Years War ( )

6. EUROPE IN THE 6th CENTURY

7. Invasions of Western Europe
In the 5th Century German Invaders overran the Western half of the Roman Empire. Repeated invasions and constant warfare caused a series of changes that altered the economy, government, and culture.
Disruption of Trade (invasions broke down trade and businesses collapsed)
Downfall of Cities (economic & political collapses forced the abandonment of cities)
Population Shifts (when cities collapsed people fled to the countryside)
The Decline of Learning (Germanic invaders were illiterate, and illiteracy spread)
Loss of a Common Language (German speakers blended with Romans and Latin evolved into French, Spanish, and many other languages.

8. Germanic Kingdoms Emerge
( ) Small Germanic Kingdoms replaced Roman Provinces and their borders constantly changed
Concept of Government Changes
Roman Empire- Loyalty to public government and written law
Germanic Kingdoms- family ties, personal liberty, small communities governed by unwritten rules & traditions
*Germanic people felt no obligation to obey a ruler that they didn’t know*

9. Clovis Ruler of the Franks
In 496, Clovis, the ruler of Franks saw a sign from God during a battle that he believed aided his army in victory.
Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors converted to Christianity.
The Franks & The Church formed an alliance which helped to spread Christianity throughout Europe.
Clovis died in 511, but the Franks continue their rule until the empire was divided in 843.

10. Charles the Hammer
By 700 an official known as the major domo, or mayor of the palace, had become the most powerful person in the Frankish Kingdom.
In 719 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) held more power than the king.
He defeated the Spanish Muslims at the Battle of Tours in 732. This victory prevented Western Europe from becoming part of the Muslim Empire and made Charles Martel a hero.

11. CHARLEMAGNE (742 – 814)

12. POPE CROWNED CHARLEMAGNE EMPEROR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE ON DEC 25, 800

13. THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

14. Charlemagne as Emperor
Charlemagne, or Charles the Great was the grandson of Charles Martel
He was an imposing 6’4” and was a highly skilled warrior and ruler
During his reign he doubled the size of the Frankish Empire, making it the greatest since Rome
In 800 Pope Leo III named him Emperor, this marked a historic joining of Germanic Power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire
He worked tirelessly to spread Christianity throughout his Empire, he maintained strong control by appointing royal agents (counts), and placed great importance on education

15. Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses
When Charlemagne died in 814, his son Louis the Pious became Emperor. Louis proved to be ineffective and when he died his three sons; Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German fought over control.
In 843, the brothers signed the Treaty of Verdun, dividing the Empire into three kingdoms.
As a result the Carolingian Dynasty lost power, giving rise to a new system of governing and landholding, feudalism.

16. CHARLEMAGNE’S EMPIRE COLLAPSES – TREATY OF VERDUN, 843

17. FEUDALISM
A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

18. THE ROAD TO KNIGHTHOOD

19. THE ROAD TO KNIGHTHOOD
KNIGHT
SQUIRE
PAGE

20. CHIVALRY: A CODE OF HONOR & BEHAVIOR

21. LIFE IN THE MEDIEVAL MANOR

22. A MEDIEVAL MANOR

23. The Medieval Catholic Church
The Church filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world and provided order it a time of chaos
The head of the Church was the Pope, followed by Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Monks, and Nuns
It created Libraries & scriptoria where monks copied books and illustrated manuscripts
The Church controlled as much as 1/3 of all land in Europe and was extremely powerful politically and socially
People relied on the Church for education, protection, and salvation
It established Canon Law and courts to punish those who broke it, it you were guilty and excommunicated you would not receive salvation

24. A MEDIEVAL MONASTERY:
THE SCRIPTORIUM

25. ILLUSTRATED MANUSCRIPTS

26. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Rounded Arches.
Barrel vaults.
Thick walls.
Darker, simplistic interiors.
Small windows, usually at the top of the wall.

27. FEUDALISM: THE RISE OF MEDIEVAL CASTLES: CARCASSONNE, FRANCE

28. THE RISE OF MEDIEVAL CASTLES: CARCASSONNE CASTLE, FRANCE

29. THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE

30. WARWICK CASTLE, ENGLAND

31. ANGERS CASTLE, FRANCE

32. TOWER OF LONDON, ENGLAND

33. TOWER OF LONDON, ENGLAND

34. CHEPSTOW CASTLE, WALES

35. LEEDS CASTLE, ENGLAND

36. EDINBURGH CASTLE, SCOTLAND

37. CAERNARFON CASTLE, WALES

38. NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, GERMANY

39. COATS OF ARMS

40. COATS OF ARMS

41. COATS OF ARMS