1. Why did the Middle Ages Turn to Feudalism?
What happened before, to set the stage for feudalistic life?
Why did the Middle Ages Turn to Feudalism?

2. How The Middle Ages Began
Rome fell leaving Europe in disunity, conflict, and poverty and in the hands of invaders
A new European civilization would have to develop and a blended culture emerged: Greco-Roman, German, and Christian

3. Groups Who Shaped Europe
The Franks(French): strongest Germanic kingdom to emerge in Western Europe; allied with the powerful Christian Church of Rome
Muslim World: Overran Christian lands and took control of Spain
Led to the Battle of Tours in A.D. 732-the Christians wanted to push them out

4. Charlemagne/Charles the Great
Built a united empire across France, Germany, and part of Italy
Crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Pope Leo III after helping crush a rebellion of Nobles in Rome.
Very significant b/c a Christian pope crowned a Germanic King as successor to Rome.
This laid the ground for future power struggles between Rome and Germany

5. After Charlemagne When he died his empire soon fell, too
This was followed by 30 years of power struggles
His grandson soon divided the region into 3 parts
Charlemagne left a legacy of a strong and united Christian kingdom
Wave of invasions ensued-all seeking to pillage Western Europe: Muslims; Magyars (Hungary); and Vikings (Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

6. The Church and Medieval Life
Christian rituals and faith were part of everyday life
The Church was the social center as well as a place to worship
They took pride in it and tithed (gave 10% of income to the church-Biblical) to keep it beautiful.

7. Monks and Nuns
Monks (men) and nuns (women) were those who withdrew from worldly life to devote their life to God within monasteries and convents.

8. Saint Benedict: monk in A. D
Saint Benedict: monk in A.D. 530 who drew up a set of rules to regulate monastic life: Benedictine Rule:
This “law” included 3
main vows:
Obedience to the
abbot/abbess
Poverty
Chastity/Purity

9. The Power of the Church Grows
The church controlled spiritual life and soon dominated secular life
Concept of Papal Supremacy developed (primarily the Catholic faith): Pope considered representative of Christ and therefore has authority over all secular rulers.
Moreover, this soon led to Papal States-lands belonging to the pope.
Church and state were one.

10. Religious Authority
Canon Law: Laws and courts belonging to the medieval church; disobedience led to a range of penalties.
The most severe penalty was excommunication: not receiving sacraments or a “Christian” burial
When nobles opposed the church they received an interdict: an order excluding an entire town, region, or kingdom

11. Reforms As the Church’s wealth and power grew-its discipline weakened
Throughout the Middle Ages there became an evident need for reform
Francis of Assisi set up friars-monks who did not live in monasteries but traveled…Why did this help?
Cluniac Reforms: initiated by Abbot Berno of Cluny
Revived Benedictine rule
Nobles could no longer interfere with monastic affairs
Brought devoted men into the ministry
A.D. 1073: Pope Gregory VII applied the reforms to the entire church as a whole. He then outlawed marriage for priests and simony (the selling of church offices and buying pardons for sins)