the middle ages

Lasted from 500 – 1500Germanic groups invaded

Roman EmpireTrade was disruptedPeople returned to rural ways of lifePeople were less educatedMonasteries preserved

knowledge

A Germanic tribe of nomads who lived in the Rhine River Valley.

In the 400s, the Franks began to invade Roman Gaul (France today)

Merovingian King of the Franks from 481-511

He was Pagan, but In 496 his wife (Clothilde) convinced him to convert to Christianity

The rest of his people then converted

“Charles the Hammer”Carolingian who

became Mayor of the Palace in 714

Defeated the Muslims in 732 at the Battle of Tours

Ended the Muslim threat to Europe (except for Spain)

Showed the effectiveness of cavalry (used by Muslims)

Led to the importance of knights

Pepin the Short (son of Charles Martel) Convinced Pope Boniface to crown him

King of the Franks (751)Pepin created the Papal States when he

gave part of his territory to the PopeEnded all rule of the Merovingians and

began the Carolingian Dynasty

“Charles the Great”Son of Pepin771 – King of the FranksCreated the largest

kingdom in Europe since ancient Rome

Pope Leo III crowned him King of the Romans

(Cont.)

Paid for a revival of learning - the Carolingian Renaissance

Monks copied Roman manuscripts

Opened schools His empire was divided

between his three sons who fought each other until 843 – signed the Treaty of Verdun

Increasing violence and lawlessVikings attacked from the northMagyars (Turkish nomads) attacked from

the eastMuslims attacked from the south

People had no central government to protect them

People turned to lords for protection

KingVassals – Nobles and

Bishops who were wealthy land owners

Knights – defended Vassals’ land in exchange for fiefs (land)

Peasants – worked the Vassals’ fields; many were serfs who could not leave the land

Popes often crowned the Kings.All Christian Kings had to have the

Pope’s blessing.Excommunication – if the Pope

was unhappy with a King, they could be excommunicated and condemned to hell.

The Church could put anyone on trial who violated Canon (Church) law.

The climate was warmer from 800 to 1200

Farmers used a new type of harness that fit across a horse’s chest – horses could pull plows

Farmers could grow more crops when they switched from a two-field system to a three-field system

The Church forbade Christians from lending money at interest – Jews became the source for loans.

Trade increased and towns grew larger and more crowded.

Authors began writing in the vernacular – brought literature to many people

Christian scholars from Europe visited Muslim libraries

Many Greek writings were translated into Latin.

Ancient writings influenced Christian writers.

The Age of Faith

Ended marriage of Priests and Simony

Towering cathedrals with stained-glass windows (ex. Notre Dame)

Needed to protect Constantinople.

He wanted to take control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks

Crusaders captured Jerusalem.

Saladin recaptured Jerusalem.

Richard the Lion-Hearted fought Saladin

Came to a truce – Saladin opened Jerusalem to Christian pilgrims

Knights attacked and looted the Christian cities of Zara and Constantinople

Drove the Muslims out of Spain.

People suspected of heresy were questioned, tortured, and executed.

William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) led a French Army and defeated Harold the Saxon for the English throne.

William became William I of England.

He declared all of England his personal property.

Granted fiefs to about 200 Norman lords

Laid the foundation for centralized government

Grandson of William I made major reforms to the royal power in England.

Consolidated courts – more crimes and civil cases would be tried by the Royal Courts

Common Law developed – laws are created by decisions of the judges, earlier decisions are used as precedents.

Grand Jury System – a jury determines if there is enough evidence to justify a trial

Attempted to bring the church courts under his control

Failed after his clash with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas à Becket

Philip strengthened the central government in France by putting more land under his control.

1204 – Philip II of France Regains Normandy from the English

John and Richard the Lionhearted were both sons of Henry II, but Richard only spent 10 months of his reign in England

Ineffective ruler – lost territory to the French, taxed heavily and abandoned jury trials to punish his enemies

A large group of his vassal lords revolted against him in 1215 and forced him to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede

The Magna Carta required the king to observe due process of law

Was intended to protect the lords, but it later protected merchants and peasants

Became the foundation of the English system of constitutional government

He set up courts where people could appeal their lord’s decision.

This strengthened the monarchy and weakened feudal ties.

1226 – Louis IX became King of France

Monks were people who gave up worldly possessions and devote themselves to a religious life

Established between 400 -700 communities called monasteries which became centres of education, literacy and learning

Strict codes of monastic conduct called Rule of St. Benedict

Saints- one who performs miracles that are interpreted as evidence of a special relationship with God

St. Augustine- wrote “Confessions” which discussed ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and the role of free will which shaped monastic tradition and the influence of Church

Byzantine Empire in 6th Century

New royal dynasty called Capetians in France

System of primogeniture= system where eldest son inherited everything (instead of dividing land / property / wealth)

Lords and knights however had little loyalty and began competing more fiercely for land, power, influence and control

Peace of God= a set of decrees issued in 989 CE that prohibited stealing church property, assaulting clerics, peasants and women with the threat of excommunication from Church

were set to protect the unarmed populace by limiting warfare in countryside

Truce of God= set in 1027 CE and outlawed all fighting from Thursday to Monday morning, on important feast days and during religious days

Truce encouraged idea that the only combat pleasing to God was in the defence of Christendom (idea of the righteousness of holy war)

1095 CE Pope Urban II referred to Truce of God when calling knights to the first Crusade in support of Christians

War of Investitures (Pope Gregory VII and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV)

Norman Conquests & William the Conqueror (who was crowned King of England and ordered the Doomsday Book)

Magna Carta (king is subject to the law)

Crusades

Effects of Crusades (military failure but many positive effects (spreading of culture, goods, scientific knowledge, Arabic language and thought, economic growth in rural communities, and trade)

Effects of CrusadesGuild and communesTowns, cities and manorsNew thinkers (Thomas Aquinas) and writersCreation of universitiesNew art and architecture (gothic, castles)Knighthood and chivalryCourtly entertainment (fables, playwrights)

Black Deatha devastating

worldwide pandemic that first struck Europe in the mid 14th century

killed about a third of Europe’s population, an estimated 34 million people.

Called “black death” because of striking symptom of the disease, in which sufferers' skin would blacken due to hemorrhages under the skin

Spread by fleas and rats painful lymph node swellings called buboes buboes in the groin and armpits, which ooze

pus and blood. damage to the skin and underlying tissue until

they were covered in dark blotches Most victims died within four to seven days

after infection

EFFECTS Caused massive depopulation and change

in social structure Weakened influence of Church Originated in Asia but was blamed on

Jews and lepers

Roger Bacon (gunpowder)Luca Pacioli (Father of Accounting)Johannes Gutenberg (printing press)Christine de Pisan (writer); Geoffrey

Chaucer (writer)Joan of Arc (Hundred Year’s War)Pope Urban II (indulgences)Pope Innocent IV and Bernard Gui

(inquisitions)Parliamentary Government in England