Stages of Development of Western Europe During Middle Ages

Chapter 10 (1 of 4)

What were the Middle Ages?Middle Ages = Term for western

Europe during the Postclassical Era (A.P. World History’s 3rd time period)

If you see the term “the West” = western Europe (later includes

America)

The Middle Ages are also called the Dark Ages

Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome (476) and ended in the 1400s

The Early Middle Ages (450-900)First part of Middle Ages

= western Europe had many problems and

considered backwards

Eventually, western Europe would recover and advance rapidly, but that wasn’t until the later part of the Middle Ages (after 900 C.E.)

Italy was struggling after the fall of Rome and Spain was ruled by

Muslims

Early Middle Ages = Western Europe Weak

Western Europe often invaded, making it hard

to advance

Vikings = Scandinavian raiders, invaded Europe between 700s and 1000s

Literacy Low In Early Middle Ages

For the most part, only the

clergy and people in

monasteries were literate,

and they helped to

preserve classic learning

Manor System

Manor System

Manorialism = economic and political system b/t

landlords and their peasants

Manor System (Feudalism) increased due to a lack of trade during early part of

the Middle Ages

A Serf’s LifeSerfs = most peasants, who were farmers, lived on self-

sufficient estates called manors, got protection from lord (noble) in return for part of their good

Moldboard Plow = new plow that could get through heavy soil

Serf life was difficult:

agricultural technology

low and production

low (had to spend

many days repairing caste or

working on lord’s land)

Not slaves (couldn’t be bought and sold) owned

land as long as obligations

metThree-Field System = crop rotation leaving

less land unused

Though limited, some new technology did help

The Church

After the fall of Rome, the church was the only strong

form of organization (governments weak)

Pope

Bishops

Priests

Pope sponsored missions (converted England,

Germany, parts of eastern Europe) to Christianity

ClovisGerman warrior

who converted to Christianity in 496

and got control over the Franks (German tribe living where

France is today)

The Role of Monasteries

Many monasteries built during the Middle Ages,

and they played a big role in medieval society

Monasteries showed the spiritual focus of medieval

society and promoted education and literacy

Charles “The Hammer” Martel

Ruler of the Franks (he was from the Carolingian family)

Defeated Muslims at Battle of Tours (732) stopping Muslim advance into western Europe

CharlemagneLater Carolingian ruler

who established empire in France and Germany around 800, called Holy

Roman Empire

Looked like glory of Rome would be revived,

but never occurred

Charlemagne

Western Europe became series of regional

monarchies with weak kings (aristocracy

powerful)

After Charlemagne’s death in 814, empire split into 3 sections

(France, Germany, Low Countries) so each of his

sons could have one

Most powerful of these regional monarchies in Germany and northern

Italy

Europe Divided

Culturally western Europe was united through

Catholicism, but politically it was very

divided

No single language in western Europe (Latin

was language of church, but spoken language was

French, English, etc)

Things Turn Around Year 900

Agricultural Innovations such as the

moldboard plow, three-field system, horse collar, and stirrups

Viking raids began stopping in the 900s

This led to population growth, which led to economic innovation

and the growth of cities and towns

Economic GrowthMore people meant more

markets, trade grew

Harsh serfdom still existed, but serfs

gaining more freedom

Feudal system weakened as towns grew (demand for peasant labor increased and landlords needed to entice them by giving them more freedom (now charged rent)

A commercial, market-based

economy began to exist in western

Europe

Growth of Towns and CitiesTowns and cities grew

rapidly especially in Italy

Asia still had more in cities than western Europe, but

they were growing in western Europe

Literacy spread in urban centers, as did use of vernacular (spoken)

languages, like French and English

Merchant activity and craft production grew

Universities Grow Church based schools formed in

800s

By 1000s, first universities

created – they trained middle

class in the cities in theology,

medicine, and law

By 1100s, modern universities

emerge throughout

western Europe (such as Oxford

and Cambridge in England)

Getting Back to the Feudal System Began by 500s

Originally very local (lords had 5-10 vassals) but could span over large areas or kingdoms (such as Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire)

Feudalism hurt development of strong monarchies (feudal lords had power) but it reduced local warfare

Kings used feudalism to build power (France started as feudal lords near Paris who gradually expanded and built monarchy)

William the ConquerorSet up a central monarchy with a bureaucracy to help

rule

Led the Norman (from Normandy, France)

invasion of England in 1066, extending feudal

system to England

Feudal Monarchies

Growth of feudal monarchies similar to China – both extensive

bureaucracies

To extend power, feudal monarchies hired

professional armies, and hired businessmen to run

bureaucracies

Limited Government

Strong monarchies didn’t develop across Europe, as regional

states and feudal lords still had much power

Ex: Magna Carta and King John (1215) –

forced to give up power (couldn’t add new taxes w/out parliament’s ok

Parliament = legislative body representing 3

privileged estates (church, nobles, urban

leaders) not commoners

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)

War fought between France and England

Led to decline of feudal system (monarchs) saw that feudal militaries (which did

most of fighting) weren’t too effective, and a paid was

army better

Since noble’s military power no longer needed, feudal

system began fading away

Western Europeans Crave Expansion

As the economy of western Europe began to grow, a period of expansionism occurred

Reasons for expansion:1. Population was growing

2. Desire to spread Christianity

Germans expanded east, Christians eventually drove Muslims out of Spain, Vikings got to what is today Canada

The Crusades

The Crusades were the biggest

expansionist movement

Urban II – Pope who ordered 1st

Crusade

Lasting impact of Crusades was West being exposed to Middle Eastern

culture

Religious ReformChurch officials often caught up in politics,

hurting church

Investiture – practice of government appointing

bishops, Gregory VII fought Holy Roman Emperor Henry

IV on this issue and won

Reform movements began to remove this secularism from the

church and rid church of interference of

feudal lords

Began Western idea of separation of church and state

Gregory VII – Pope (1073-1085) reformed

church

Height of Medieval Civilization

Medieval Western civilization reached its peak in the 1100s and

the 1200s

Merchant activity was growing and the feudal

system was slowly dying out