1. Feudalism and Village Life
Life in the Middle Ages
Feudalism and Village Life

2. Life in the Middle Ages Topics
Europe after the Fall of Rome
The rise of Feudalism
Social Classes
Life on a Manor
The Role of the Church

3. The Rise of the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Roman Empire and “barbarian” tribes invading from the North. People in the Middle Ages faced difficult lives filled with hard work, deadly diseases, and wars. But, it was also a time of growing populations, new technologies, increasing trade, and new ideas.

4. Collapse of the Roman Empire
Collapse happens over time.
Which group of invaders came the farthest?
Rome had provided peace, stability, culture, Latin language, and Christian religion.
Empire weakens because of economic and social troubles.
Invaders destroyed towns and cut off trade routes.
Invaders bring languages and laws. Reading and writing almost disappear.

5. Charlemagne reunites Western Europe.
One of the invading groups was the Franks. They were led by a great military leader, Charlemagne. He conquered Western Europe, including France, which was named after the Franks.
Many of the small kingdoms of Europe often warred with each other. Charlemagne conquered and united these small kingdoms into the Frankish Empire.

6. Charlemagne and the Frankish Empire
In 771, Charlemagne became king of the Franks, a Germanic tribe in present- day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and western Germany. He set out on a mission to unite all Germanic peoples into one kingdom, and convert his subjects to Christianity.
In 800, Pope Leo III ( ) crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Romans. In this role, he encouraged learning and culture in Europe. He issued money and improved the economy. When he died in 814, Charlemagne’s empire included most of Western Europe, and he had also guaranteed the survival of Christianity in the West.
Today, Charlemagne is referred to by some as the father of Europe.
Do you believe that Charlemagne’s empire will continue after his death?
The empire falls after his death. It was divided among his sons, who fought each other and weakened the empire.

7. The Vikings
The Vikings came from present day countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They were from the North, (Norsemen), become known as Normans.
They were skilled warriors and sailors.
They attacked towns along the coasts and rivers in Europe, killing villagers and stealing from them.

8. The Vikings
Vikings also built settlements in Europe. The Normandy region in France was settled by the Vikings (Normans, short for Norseman) and they adopted the language and culture of the people.
Vikings sailed as far west as Newfoundland, Canada and as far south as Northern Africa.
How was Europe different from the time of Charlemagne’s empire?