MEDIEVAL AGES (500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)

What were the Middle Ages?• …the era between 500 to 1350 a.d.

• …known as “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Era”• …after downfall of Romans, barbarian tribes

plundered European countryside• …West – splintered remains of classical world• …East – wealthy with Byzantine and Muslim

influences

•…violence and chaos reigned, but loyalties and changes took hold.•…the time period in which classical influences from Greece and Rome were temporarily lost to the general populace; which created an environment of ignorance, corruption and violence.•…”fend for yourself” or “die”.•…the Franks became the most influential of the barbarian tribes in modern-day Germany and France.

Where did the Middle Ages begin?

Who helped to create the Middle Ages?

Frankish leaders

Clovis

• Around 481 a.d.• No conscience,

brutal, violent and cruel

• Supported Christianity

• Name of the “Franks”

Pepin II• Around 700 a.d.• “Mayor of the

Palace”• Created hereditary

leadership for medieval world

Charles Martel

• Known as “the Hammer”

• Around 732 a.d.• Stopped Muslim

advance into Western Europe

• Removed threat of Islamic ideas in Christian lands

Pepin III• Known as “the Short”• Around 760 a.d.• Crowned by Pope

(with the grace of God)

• Pope’s gain spiritual and political power

• “Donation of Pepin”• Formation of alliance

between church and state

• 768 – 814 a.d.• Greatest king of

Medieval Europe• Intelligent, religious

and had little formal education

• Conquered, united and maintained an empire in Western Europe

• Title of “Emperor of the Romans” (close ties between Franks and church)

Charlemagne

Charlemagne’s system of government…

•100’s of regions ruled by a Count•Each region possessed its own military of armed knights, laws and lands•Capital at Aachen (modern-day Germany)

•Usage of Missi Dominici, who were the “eyes and ears of the king”•Little to no taxes•Every individual was to contribute to the kingdom in his or her own way

Charlemagne’s beliefs about education…

•Create schools to educate all in one fashion or another•Scholars would be used from all over Europe•Produce a usable, vernacular-translated Bible•Create libraries and encourage the copying of religious texts to promote literacy

•Christianity based•Convert to Frankish and Christian ways - accept baptism in Christianity - or be executed

After Charlemagne’s death in 814 a.d…

• …his three grandsons (Louis the German, Lothair and Charles the Bald = sons of Louis the Pious) divide the kingdom…

• …which leads to the downfall of the Frankish Kingdom and rule, because of…

• …jealousy and internal conflicts, barbarian invasions and a general lack of unification.

When Charlemagne’s kingdom was torn apart by internal strife,…

it opened the door for another “barbarian people” to influence the

European continent…

they were the…

VIKINGS

Who were the Vikings?

• Most feared of all European invaders in the 800’s and 900’s a.d.

• From Scandinavia, not Minnesootaaah!• Known as “Vikings, Danes, North men or

Norse men”• Misunderstood throughout history, as the

label of violent and crude was only one aspect of Viking society.

What were the Vikings like?

• Democratic, loyal, resourceful, curious, hard-working, superstitious, creative, explorers, war-like, diligent and unrelenting…

• Seen as “rude, crude and violent”

The Vikings were a significant reason why medieval society survived and thrived

throughout its difficult existence…

without the Vikings, the assimilated, multi-cultural society that would develop in

Europe would never have been.

To deal with the ever-changing violence of medieval life, two distinct ways of survival developed to maintain a sense of organization and to help protect individual kingdoms.

They were feudalism and manorialism.

Feudal System

Characteristics of feudal system…

• Political system based on ownership of land

• “Land, loyalty, protection, service and relationships”

• Fief – land• Vassal – subordinate follower,

feudal position• Primogenture – inheritance of

position• Dowry – money given as a gift

for service or to the groom in an arranged marriage

• Relationship based on an exchange of goods and services

• Monarch – total control and influence, top of feudal system

• Nobility – upper class and wealthy, lived in castles or palaces, dependent on common people, feudal obligations, medieval cultural creativity and provided entertainment for kingdom

• Peasants (known as “serfs”) – common people, mainly farmers and town folk, tied to the land for life, average life span 40 years, born/live/die in same place, simple and boring life style

• Honorable relationship between legal equals

• Personal loyalties and obligations• Feudal justice – trial by battle, oath

taking and ordeals

DESCRIPTION

OF FEUDAL SYSTEMpp. 186 –

190READ, READ,

READ

Manor System

Characteristics of Manor System…

• Economic system closely connected to feudal system

• Based on the successful operation of the “manor”

• Manor – lord’s estate (property and lands)

• Self-sufficiency – being able to operate or survive without any outside help

• Focused on “sustenance” instead of “profit”

Manorial System continued…

• The castle (or manor house) was the main feature of the “manor system”

• Wide-spread trade was unknown, so self-sufficiency was necessary

Pembroke     

Newark     

Ludlow     

Leeds      Edinburgh     

Cardiff     

Canterbury     

Tower of London     

Alnwick     

Bamburgh     

Beaumaris     

Berry Pomeroy   

Bodiam     

Deal     

Dover     

Harlech     

Helmsley     

Laugharne     

Kenilworth     

Kirby Muxloe     

Lewes     

Llansteffan     

Llawhaden     

Nunney     

Oxwich     

Picton     

Powis     

Raglan     

Rhuddlan     

Sherborne     

Traquair     

Whittington     

Wiston     

Caerlaverock     

Clifford's Tower     

Chepstow     

Other important influences on

the Middle Ages…

The Church…

Medieval Church…•…became the backbone of society, as Christianity was the core of most medieval lives•…administered the sacraments and led life by example•…belief that faith in Christ, living a life of morality and participation in the sacraments would lead to salvation•…was main “rival” of kings, as both desired similar things during this era – such as land, influence, titles, money, power, etc

M e d iev a l Ch u rch

M o n k s/N u ns"p ro v ide d b as ic s oc ia l s erv ic e s"

"h o sp ita lity, p ro vid e rs , e d u ca to rs"

P rie s ts"a d m in iste re d th e sa cra m en ts"

"te a ch in g a bo u t liv lih oo d a n d m o ra lity"

B ish o ps"lo c a l su pe rv is o rs"

A rc h b is h o ps"re g io na l su p erv iso rs"

C u ria"a d visors to th e P op e"

"v e ry in flu e n tia l"kn o w n a s C ard in a ls

P ope"S p iritu a l a n d S e c u la r lea d e r o f the C h ris t ia n C hu rc h"

Characteristics of the church…

• …religious, social and/or education centers

• …pride in local churches

• …required “tithe” or contributions to the church

• …gender equality in heaven, but male-dominated on earth

• …commitment to spiritual pursuits through monks and nuns

• …life of service, educating and living a moral life

• …creation of monasteries and convents

• …became a spiritual and secular power

• …rising conflict between “secular kings” and “papal supremacy” (would lead to difficult times between kings and popes)

Power of the church…

• Canon law – absolute authority in religious affairs as determined by the church; dealt with teachings and morality

• Excommunication – an individual cut off from the church without sacraments or burial

• Interdict – the church cutting off a town or region from receiving the sacraments or burial

• Canon law was very influential with ending feudal conflicts and enforcing its will on medieval society

• …internal reform movements, such as the Cluniac Reforms which reorganized the faltering direction of the church and ended its corruption and greed

• … the Franciscan, Dominican and Beguines Orders transformed the Christian Church to act in societies best interest (WWJD)