EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES500-1500 ADChapter 13

Overview & Background New European civilization emerges

Formed by combination of 3 elements coming togetherGermanic tribes invading old Roman Empire

Roman legacy of culture, governmentChristian church & spread of Christianity

SimultaneouslyByzantine Empire in Mediterranean creates own unique civilization

Germanic Invasions Germanic tribes move into Roman Empire

Visigoths move into Spain primarily Ostrogoths took control of Italy and

area north Eventually, Western Roman Empire

goneGermanic states ruled by German kings Romans and Germans merge

Invasions/Warfare disrupt societyTrade

Businesses collapsed

Economic centers (cities) destroyed

Money becomes scarce

As cities are abandoned, no one is administering (taking care of business!) in the empire

PopulationCities/Gov’t

As cities/gov’t collapse: nobles, leaders, and city folks head for rural areas where they can farm

Decline of learning – only priests, monksLoss of common language – Latin blends w/French, Spanish, etc.

Germanic Kingdoms Germanic kingdoms fight with each

other Shifting borders Church is only constant – order, security

Concept of Gov’t changesRome

• Loyal to state• Written laws• Strong gov’t• Unified

society

Germanic • Family, personal

ties• Loyalty to them• Unwritten rules• Warriors loyal to

chiefs• Chief provided

for their needs, they fought for him

Impossible to govern large

territory

Germanic Kingdoms Roman law – crimes against the

state Germanic law – more personal --

How? Bloody feuds between families –

revenge Developed concept of “wergild”“money for a man”Injure or kill someone, must pay the family

Value determined by social status How did they determine guilt?

Ordeal – hold hot iron, boiling water If innocent – divine intervention saves you

Clovis & the Franks Franks held power in Gaul (France &

Switzerland) – largest, strongest kingdom

Clovis – the ruler Converts to Christianity after “divine

intervention” in a battleHe & warriors are baptizedWhole kingdom converts, which unifies the Franks

Relationship between church & the Kingdom is start of powerful partnership in Medieval Europe

Charles Martel Major domo = most powerful person in the

Frankish kingdom Took care of estate, palace, made policies Led armies, ruled the kingdom

719 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) More powerful than the King Defeats Muslims at Battle of Tours

If he had lost, would have dramatically changed Europe Western Europe would have been in Muslim

Empire He becomes Christian hero; sons fight for Pope Crown Pepin “King by the grace of God” Begins Carolingian Dynasty : 751-987

Charlemagne & Carolingians Who was Charlemagne?

Pepin’s son Charles the Great – builds largest empire since

ancient Rome What was he like?

Fierce warrior – conquered lands, fought Muslims

Smart Curious Decisive Determined Spread Christianity

By 800, empire larger than Byzantine Sent royal agents out to help govern

Charlemagne & Carolingians Charlemagne ruled from

768 – 814 Empire covered much of

western & central Europe In 800 crowned by Pope

Leo III “Emperor of Romans” He fought off attack on Pope

Turning point in history – new civilization Crowning of Charlemagne

brought together 3 elements – Roman heritage, Christianity, Germans

Charlemagne-Charles the Great

Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne

Charlemagne & Carolingians What is meant by intellectual

renewal? Carolingian Renaissance

Promoted learning Educated clergy Educated government officials Monasteries: Scriptoria = writing

room Monks copied Roman & Greek

classics, Bible

What happened after Charlemagne died? Treaty of Verdun: 30 years later

grandsons divide Empire into 3 sections West, Middle & East

Weakens the empire, leads to feudalism after Viking invasions

Feudalism – Begins with Invasions Divided kingdom = invasions 800-1000 AD Most far-reaching attacks: Norsemen of

Scandinavia Vikings – Germanic people 9th Century sacked cities, destruction

everywhere Superb ship builders & sailors – sailed inland via

rivers to attack – settled all over Europe Fierce warriors – quick, surprise attacks

Magyars from W. Asia into Central Europe Hungary, Germany, northern Italy

Muslims attack from N. Africa into southern Europe Spain, Sicily, Italy, Switzerland

Wave of Invasions – 9th-10th Centuries

How did Franks react? Invasions caused

disorder, suffering, constant danger

Helped settle the Vikings

Converted them to Christianity

This is how Normandy, France was settledWhere D-Day invasion took place WWII

Feudalism – Begins with Invasions

People turned to local landed aristocrats (lords-nobles) for protection

Feudalism = social, political, economic system System of service in exchange for protection Lords controlled land - land has greatest

value They have political power – rule their fiefdom Considered an honorable relationship –

contract between the lord and vassal Brings order & stability amidst invasions &

attacks from other nobles

King

LordsWealthy Landowners

Nobles, Bishops

Knights – fight for the Lords & King; could get land – fief; then

he would be a Lord to people below him

Peasants – farmed the land, but didn’t own it; most are serfs

Serfs – bound to the land; could not leave where born & whatever they produced, belonged to the Lord

All land belongs to King – he grants use of

it to Lords: Nobles & Clergy

In exchange, they pledge loyalty,

military service to King

The Lords could grant land (fief) to

Knights

Feudalism

Lords & Knight are called Vassals

In exchange, they pledge

loyalty, military service to Lord

People born into their positions

Those who fought Those who prayed Those who worked Free peasants were

masons, bakers, leather goods, raised sheep, farmed, butcher; could move to other manors or places

Serfs were tied to the land; could never leave it. Farmed, but everything belonged to lord. They were provided a home, fields to farm, & other needs met by lord.

They exchanged freedom for security.

Manors – Feudal Economic System Lords provide:

Housing Farmland Protection from

bandits, invaders, other nobles

Approve marriages Judge, jury,

executioner Collect taxes, portion

of grain Provide mills for

grains Ensure Manor is well

cared for

Vassals, Peasants & Serfs provide: Military service Farm the land – their

fields & the lord’s Give portion of grains Pay high taxes – on

mills & other things Care for animals Must give # of days to

lord for service on manor Build roads, bridges, do

repairs, Tithe church (1/10th)

Feudal Manors Jigsaw Get into groups of 6 people, use HW

notes Team 1 & 3:

Describe the relationship between the lord & serfs Include the economics

Team 2&4: How was the Manor a self-contained world?

Draw Feudal Manor

Knights and Code of Chivalry Nobles fought with each other at times Created private armies of knights -

horsemen Saddles & stirrups help lead to this

type of warfare As warriors, formed a special group

Primary job is to fight Use wealth from fief to pay expenses

Armor, horses, weapons, shields Spend lives training to fight – held

tournaments to practice Developed code of chivalry

Code of Chivalry

Brave, courageous Loyal Courteous Protect weak and poor Protect the church Treat captives as honored guests Fight for glory, not material rewards

Defend 3 MastersFeudal

lordHeavenly Lord

Chosen lady

Knights did not always live up to the code. Often treated peasants brutally.

Becoming a Knight 7 years old = Page

Serve at castle of a different lord

Wait on guests, train for fighting

14 years old = Squire Servant to a Knight

21 years old = Full Knight Travel for 2 years

Fight in local, small wars Participate in mock battles -

tournaments

Chivalry Literature Glamorized castle life Downplayed the brutality Love songs & poems Epic poems – hero’s adventures Troubadours – travelling poets-

musicians Songs of longing for love Made knights look more romantic than

brutal Artificial image of women as well

Noble & pure - NOT! Most celebrated woman – Eleanor of

Aquitaine

Women Aristocrats Could own property, but land went

to sons Mostly under control of men When lord was away, what did

women do? Managed the estate Financials Getting food and supplies Might serve as military

commander, fight Many advised or even dominated

husbands Eleanor of Aquitaine was most

significant Became Queen of England -

married King Henry II Gave birth to Kings Richard and

John

Peasant Women Endless labor – at

home and in fields Bore and raised

children Managed families No power, yet made

great huge financial contributions through their work

Church had huge influence on their lives

The Power of the Catholic Church

The Power of the Catholic Church

Benedictine Abbey

Role of Church As Roman Empire deteriorated & Clovis

converted to Christianity, church took on more important role Missionaries spread Christianity Catholic Church structure formed

Monasteries, Convents are created in rural areas Monks & nuns live there, give up all

possessions Devote lives to prayer & good works Italian monk Benedict writes a strict,

practical set of rules for monks Sister Scholastica does same for nuns They open schools, copy books, preserve

learning

Pyramid Organization of the Church

Local Communities—Parishes led by Priests

Group of Communities/Parishes —Diocese led by Bishops

Cardinals lead group of Archbishops

Cardinals elect Pope to oversee entire

Church

Pope

Archbishops lead a group of Bishops

Structure of the Church • Power is based on Status• Clergy: – Officials who performed religious services – Includes priests, ministers, etc.

• Local Priests = peoples main contact with the church

Role of Church How did he come to be called Pope?

Taken from Latin “papa” father What is the “papacy”?

Office of the Pope Why was Gregory I significant?

Strengthened the papacy & church – made it more secular (worldly vs. religious)

Leader of city of Rome & surrounding papal states

Gained political power Raised armies, helped poor, repaired roads,

made treaties – became a ruler (political position)

Religion Unites Church is the only thing that

bonded people together—stability

Sacraments: Christian ceremonies that

transmit God’s grace to people Ex: baptism

Main goal for people Get to heaven

Church Law System of justice guides

people’s conduct Canon Law

Body of laws that govern religious practices & Christian Church

EVERYONE subject to canon law Punishments

Excommunication Banishment from Church

Interdict Sacraments & religious services

can’t be performed in region w/out sacraments—doomed to hell