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

…government continued…

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

…education continued…

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.

Feudalism

Characteristics of feudalism…

• 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

Medieval society…

• 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

FEUDAL SYSTEM

P E A S A N T S P E A S A N TS P E A S A N T S P E A S A N TS

K n ig h ts K n ig h ts

L e sse r L o rd

K n ig h ts K n ig h ts

L e sse r L o rd

G re a te r L o rd

M o n a rch(K in g /Q ue e n)

• Feudalism continued–– Honorable relationship between

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

taking and ordeals

DESCRIPTION

OF

FEUDALISM

pp. 186 – 190

READ, READ, READ

Manorialism

Characteristics of manorialism…

• Economic system closely connected to feudalism

• 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”

Manorialism 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     

Medieval Castle Project…

• For an “A thru C”…– Draw 3-blue-prints

of your castle, which will include frontand aerial views

– Must be a scale-drawing on graph paper, in perspective and in proportion with all dimensions

– Well-done, colorful, creative and inspirational

Coats of Arms…

Create a coat of arms…

• Requirements –– Use the provided shield outline– Must include “4” images…

• Main image, must be approved• Maternal image• Paternal image• “You” image, must be approved

– Colorful, well-done, neat with all images

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 ieva l C h u rch

M o n ks/N u ns"p ro v ide d b as ic soc ia l se rv ice 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 ca l su pe rv iso rs"

A rch b ish o ps"re g io na l su p erv iso rs"

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

"ve 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 cu la r lea d e r o f the C hris tian C hu rch"

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

• …very influential with ending feudal conflicts and enforcing its will on medieval society

• …internal reform movements, such as the Cluniac Reforms, reorganized the faltering direction and ended the church’s corruption and worldliness

• …Franciscan, Dominican and Beguines transformed the Christian Church

Medieval society…

• Cultural• Entertainment and games• Festivals and celebrations• Superstitions• Coats of Arms• Weapons• Tortures• Oddities of Medieval life…

Cultural…

• Culture always includes any, and all, aspects of a society such as clothing, language, food, events, tools, etc…

• …some unique aspects of medieval society include the following…

Clothing…

a) Frankish King and Queen b) Frankish Noblewomen c) King Charles the Bald d) Emperor Henry II, Frankish Bishop

a) Monk, Bishop, Priest b) Frankish King and Queen c) Norman Ladies, Norman Noblewoman d) Knights and soldiers - First Crusade

a) Servant, Roman Pope, King a) German Noblewomenb)Squire and Knight - First Crusade d) Commoner, Rich Jew, Knight

a) Order of St. John of Jerusalem - Females b) Order of St. John of Jerusalem - Males c) Master and Knight of the Teutonic Order d) Templars - Knights

a) German Prince, German Ladies b) German Knight and Family c) Italian Scholars, German Middle-Class Woman d) Knight, Prince, Templar - Knight

a) Knightly Dress - King of Germany (1349) b) Court of Orlamunde (1315)c) Soldiers (1370)d) knights and lady (1378)

12th, 13th and 14th Centuries

14th Century and beyond…

The code of conduct during the Medieval Era

was called…

CHIVALRY

Characteristics of

chivalry…• A code of conduct for

knights and nobility• “simply complex”• Proof of worthiness, loyalty,

courtesy, personal, selectiverespect and arrogance

• Coat of arms andstandards

• Basis for medieval behavior• Applied only to nobility,

not commoners!

• “POLITICALLY CORRECT” code of conduct for medieval society

• Set the tone for all behaviors, mannerisms, attitudes and traditions throughout Europe

• “sappy love” and its “idealistic” views of love and courtship were emphasized

• Poetry and songs

Entertainment and Games…

• Bear baiting, gambling, cock fighting, drinking, songs, dance, chess, jousting, sword fighting, theater, jugglers, story telling, art, church festivals, marriage or funeral processions, poetry, music, acrobats, performing animals, plays, bonfires, sports, tournaments, archery, hunting, falconry, melees…

Festivals and Celebrations…

• Any reason to gather became a festival or celebration…

Weddings…Births and Funerals…Holidays – kingdom,

religious, personal, local…

Visitations…

Weapons…

…in-class presentaion

Tortures…

…in-class presentation

Also, a major development in

the Middle Ages…

• Centrally located, crowded, dirty, cramped conditions, disease, fire, smelly, organized chaos and all sorts of people

• Development of trade routes and trade organizations, called “leagues”

Towns during

the Middle Ages…

• Vernacular languages (local dialects/slang was used)

• Development of educational institutions in Paris, Oxford, Bologna and Salerno…better known as universities

• Towns/cities led to –

1) Freedom and more rights

2) Exempt Status (a year and a day)

3) Town Justice

4) Commercial Privileges

• A new mentality will arise in towns/cities, as the common people will gain more prestige, confidence and rights in society

Growth during the Middle Ages …

• development of “common law” – laws that apply to everyone…representative assemblies of the people.

•Magna Carta (1215) – kings can not rule as they please; creation of “due process of law”; legal equality; everyone must obey the law.

•rising conflict between spiritual leadership (pope) and secular leadership (king) over who holds real “power” throughout the medieval era.

•Growth brought problems – jealousy, greed, disease, overcrowding, inflation…benefits – equality, opportunity, learning, “global mentality”.

Other medieval events…•Agricultural Revolution – inventions/innovations to improve farming – iron plows, harnesses for horses instead of oxen, windmills, 3-field system

•Commercial Revolution -- $ (or capital) was needed for investments, partnerships/guilds, insurance on business ventures, bill of exchange, tenant farmers, creation of a middle class, rise of usury (Jewish stereotype)

•Revival of trade – demand for needed/exotic items intensified, trade companies/routes, trade fairs, creation of medieval cities/towns, usage of charters, “town air makes free!”

…this growth was substantially influenced by

the…

CRUSADES

What were the Crusades?

•Christian efforts to recapture the “holy land” from Muslim control.

•Unite Christians with a common sense of “cause” under “papal” leadership.

• “God wills it!”, Pope Urban II and

Innocent III

Crusades of the Middle Ages…

•First Crusade (1096 – 1099) – massacre of Muslims/Jews – receive spiritual forgiveness – guaranteed power of church and European supremacy – successful.

Second Crusade (1147 – 1149) – horrible losses and failed to obtain objective of Jerusalem, miserable failure.

Third Crusade (1189 – 1192) - (“crusade of the kings”, fails to recapture the holy land – Christians cut off from Jerusalem – failure.

“Children’s Crusade” – unbelievable and terrible story.

Fourth Crusade (1202 – 1204) – last attempt; turns to looting and destruction – failure – holy land remains under Muslim control.

Effects of the Crusades…

•Bitter hatred between Islam and Christianity.

•Social improvements.

•Luxury goods – fabrics, spices, perfumes

•Increased trade – sugar, cotton, rice

•“assimilation”

•Development of money economies

•Serfdom declines

•Papal and state tension

•Foreign travels – Marco Polo

•Expanded medieval horizons

•“Inquisition”

Black Death…

•What was it? A disease spread by fleas on rats

•Types? Bubonic and Pneumonic

•Effect on society?

Killed 1/3 to ½ of the

population of Europe

All events and actions of the Middle Ages are leading

to…• the creation of new ideas and curiosity• the development of towns and cities• a re-focus on learning • a global mentality• a community sense, based on Christian

ideas• a renewed pride in European society

and human capabilities• an opportunistic attitude about the

world at large

MEDIEVAL AGES (500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)