1. Early Middle Ages Mr. Koch World History A Forest Lake High School

2. Middle Ages Generally considered to be around 500 – 1450 AD – Not the drab, uneventful period often depicted

3. Early Middle Ages Social structure → Feudalism – Lords control large portions of land Vassal bound to lord by “feudal contract” Fief (estate) granted to vassal in exchange for: – Military service, money, counsel Serfs/peasants work for lord and pay fees/taxes – In return, received use of land and protection – Very hard life

4. Early Middle Ages Knighthood – Began training as early as age 7 in warfare – Usually had a feudal-type relationship with a lord – When warfare became less common – replaced with tournaments – “Chivalry” – quasi-formal code of conduct for knights

5. Early Middle Ages Castles – Nobles fortify homes/territory to protect from attack Varied in size – some protect entire cities – Women often took increased roles while men at war Inheritance was complicated/inconsistent

6. Early Middle Ages Franks – 486 AD – King Clovis conquers Gaul (Merovingians) Clovis converts to Christianity (religion of Gauls) – Battle of Tours (732 AD) – Charles Martel Franks defeat Muslim army advancing from Spain

7. Early Middle Ages Charlemagne (Charles the Great) (Carolingians) – Spent most of his life trying to conquer Europe and reunite the old Roman Empire as a Christian empire

8. Early Middle Ages Charlemagne (cont’d) – Around 800 AD he helps crush a rebellion in Rome Pope Leo III names him Emperor of Romans – Eastern Roman Emperor not happy Heirs battle for power after his death (814 AD) Empire loses its unity under pressure/invasions from Muslims, Magyars (Hungarians), Vikings