1. World Studies September 18, 2015
Middle Ages
World Studies
September 18, 2015

2. I. Europe after Rome fell
People moved out of cities and into smaller groups
No more emphasis on government, education or art
New languages developed
Christianity remained the major religion

3. II. Feudalism
Countries began to emerge under monarchies rather than democracies, but had little power

5. Monarchs, or kings, would divide up land between lords, or nobles
Structure
Monarchs, or kings, would divide up land between lords, or nobles
Lords would give a piece of their land to a vassal
Vassals had a place to live and in return had to pay taxes and give military service
Many vassals would re-divide their land and have their own vassals; serfs (peasants) to provide labor and knights to provide military service

7. Lords fought with one another frequently
Trained knights to protect them
Built castles
Life was isolated, with little trade or interaction
No development or invention

8. III. Monasteries
About 530 Benedict set up a code of conduct for nuns and monks
Life was simple and hard
Work in the monasteries
Monks copied and preserved writings from the ancient world
Were often the only centers of learning

10. IV. Economic Recovery Around 1000 Europe began to rebuild
Agricultural developments: plow, horse harness, 3 field system, windmills
Re-established trade routes and built up towns on them
Developed guilds to train skilled artisans

11. 2 Field vs 3 Field 1/2 wheat, 1/2 fallow = 50% production
1/3 wheat, 1/3 peas, 1/3 fallow = 66% production

12. I. Strong Monarchs Emerge
Begin to carve out nations
Come into conflict with church leaders over who will have what powers
Church could use the threat of excommunication
King John in England signs the Magna Carta in 1215 and establishes a parliament
Even monarchs have to obey the law
Citizens have rights which can’t be taken away

13. II. Crusades
In 1095 the Pope organized knights to go rid Jerusalem of Muslims
The first was sort of successful, the rest was messy

14. Effects of the crusades:
Increased trade
Strengthened both church and government power
Exposed Europeans to ideas from Asia
Will lead to exploration
Less religious tolerance

15. III. Bubonic Plague/Black Death
Arrived in Europe from Asia in 1347
Killed very quickly and killed many
Tremendous social and economic consequences
25,000,000 dead – 35 to 70%

18. IV. 100 Years War
In 1429 Joan of Arc helped France take back the land it had been fighting w/ the British over
Solidified national identity
New military inventions (longbow and cannon) made knights and castles obsolete
Feudalism was dead