Medieval Europe Medieval Europe

Unit 13Unit 13

The Fall of RomeThe Fall of Rome

The western Roman Empire fell in the The western Roman Empire fell in the fifth century it created a power fifth century it created a power vacuum in western Europe.vacuum in western Europe.

No one to keep the roads, rivers, and No one to keep the roads, rivers, and seas safe for trade or travel.seas safe for trade or travel.

Many lost the financial wealth Many lost the financial wealth necessary to travel. necessary to travel.

The economy came to a halt. The economy came to a halt.

The Fall of Rome and the The Fall of Rome and the ChurchChurch

With no central government power With no central government power sometimes passed to church officials sometimes passed to church officials and the Christian Church gained power. and the Christian Church gained power.

The church’s hierarchy had been The church’s hierarchy had been modeled on that of the Roman Empire, modeled on that of the Roman Empire, Bishops became administrators and Bishops became administrators and took on legal duties. took on legal duties.

Church officials convened courts, Church officials convened courts, providing protection for peasants, and providing protection for peasants, and creating laws. creating laws.

The ChurchThe Church

Positions in the Church were sometimes Positions in the Church were sometimes sought for the power then the faith and sought for the power then the faith and bishops had more power then the pope. bishops had more power then the pope.

The Church tried to reform its leadership The Church tried to reform its leadership structures in the 900’s and 1000’s by Pope structures in the 900’s and 1000’s by Pope Leo IX by excommunicating or cast people Leo IX by excommunicating or cast people out of the church.out of the church.

Struggles between the Pope and kings Struggles between the Pope and kings would continue with issues like bishop would continue with issues like bishop selections.selections.

Power of the ChurchPower of the Church The Church became a main unifying force during The Church became a main unifying force during

the middle ages. the middle ages. There was an increase of Piety: a level of There was an increase of Piety: a level of

devotion to his or her religion. devotion to his or her religion. New monasteries and orders were created in New monasteries and orders were created in

devotion.devotion. Wanted to make sure they served the people Wanted to make sure they served the people

leading to communion, baptism, confessions, leading to communion, baptism, confessions, assigning them penance, and preaching sermons. assigning them penance, and preaching sermons.

The Church also endorsed the leadership of good The Church also endorsed the leadership of good kings and nobles, kings and nobles,

Also encouraged the construction of cathedrals, Also encouraged the construction of cathedrals, which helped to make cities major centers of which helped to make cities major centers of economic prosperity.economic prosperity.

Feudalism OriginsFeudalism Origins

Warlords who held out against Germanic Warlords who held out against Germanic tribes that brought down Rome came too tribes that brought down Rome came too power.power.

Attacks from invaders became consistent Attacks from invaders became consistent that kings were hard to count on. that kings were hard to count on.

Nobles began to build castles and hired Nobles began to build castles and hired trained soldiers (Knights) to protect trained soldiers (Knights) to protect them.them.

Less powerful leaders swore allegiance Less powerful leaders swore allegiance to others in exchange for protection.to others in exchange for protection.

Feudalism Feudalism

This created a hierarchical system with This created a hierarchical system with different classes of people—nobles, different classes of people—nobles, knights, peasants, and serfs.knights, peasants, and serfs.

lord-vassal relationship: swore lord-vassal relationship: swore fealtyfealty to those above them and exacted to those above them and exacted goods and services from those below. goods and services from those below.

Land given in service is called a fief Land given in service is called a fief (feef).(feef).

If you accept land you are a vassal. If you accept land you are a vassal.

ObligationsObligations

Knights had to provide military service, Knights had to provide military service, remain loyal/faithful, and give money on remain loyal/faithful, and give money on special occasions. special occasions.

A lord had to give land, protect from A lord had to give land, protect from attack, and resolved disputes between attack, and resolved disputes between knights. knights.

Many sub-dived their land to others for Many sub-dived their land to others for their fealty and/or serve many lords their fealty and/or serve many lords making the system complicated. making the system complicated.

By law peasants or serfs had to work the By law peasants or serfs had to work the land and were financial limited. land and were financial limited.

No mobility was possible.No mobility was possible.

Manorial SystemsManorial Systems

A large estate owned by a wealthy lord or knight. A large estate owned by a wealthy lord or knight. Peasants on a manner were called serfs and were Peasants on a manner were called serfs and were

illiterate.illiterate. Serfs had to rely in lords, knights, and clergy.Serfs had to rely in lords, knights, and clergy. Serfs were given land to cultivate and protection.Serfs were given land to cultivate and protection. In return they provided labor, paid taxes, and In return they provided labor, paid taxes, and

other services. other services. Had free people who could own land or are skilled Had free people who could own land or are skilled

workers.workers. A manor was self-sufficient with everything it A manor was self-sufficient with everything it

needs.needs.

The Rise of KingsThe Rise of Kings

Some nobles were able to claim the title of king Some nobles were able to claim the title of king through a combination of church sanction and through a combination of church sanction and political ascendancy. political ascendancy.

They were bound by obligations to their vassals.They were bound by obligations to their vassals. Many small kingdoms fought each other for Many small kingdoms fought each other for

control. control. Three major groups emerged, The Anglo, Saxon, Three major groups emerged, The Anglo, Saxon,

and the Franks. and the Franks. The Anglo and the Saxons migrated to Britain and The Anglo and the Saxons migrated to Britain and

eventually united to fight the Danes under Alfred eventually united to fight the Danes under Alfred the Great.the Great.

The Franks were in Gaul (modern France)The Franks were in Gaul (modern France)

A New EmpireA New Empire The Carolingians was a family of Franks who The Carolingians was a family of Franks who

gained large control of western and central gained large control of western and central Europe. Europe.

800’s Charlemagne is crowned Emperor for his 800’s Charlemagne is crowned Emperor for his many conquests and aiding the Church. many conquests and aiding the Church.

Considered one of the most important leader in Considered one of the most important leader in European history. European history.

Set a capital, named counts to help rule parts Set a capital, named counts to help rule parts of the empire and inspectors to oversee them. of the empire and inspectors to oversee them.

Made churches start schools to educate his Made churches start schools to educate his leaders. leaders.

Also let local laws stand and wrote them down. Also let local laws stand and wrote them down. In Charlemagne's death, the Empire collapsed. In Charlemagne's death, the Empire collapsed.

The VikingsThe Vikings

Invading groups began attacking the Invading groups began attacking the Empire even before it fell. Empire even before it fell.

The fiercest of the invaders were the The fiercest of the invaders were the Vikings, also called Norsemen or Vikings, also called Norsemen or Northmen.Northmen.

Lived in northern Europe of Scandinavia Lived in northern Europe of Scandinavia (modern countries of Norway, Denmark, (modern countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden). and Sweden).

Very rural society, most were fishermen or Very rural society, most were fishermen or farmers. farmers.

Soil was not very fertile. Soil was not very fertile.

The Vikings cont.The Vikings cont.

As population grew leaders began to lead As population grew leaders began to lead raids on others to take what they needed.raids on others to take what they needed.

Great shipbuilders, sailors, and Great shipbuilders, sailors, and navigators. navigators.

They were crossing large oceans for They were crossing large oceans for plunder incredibly advanced for their time. plunder incredibly advanced for their time.

Vikings would go further and further out Vikings would go further and further out seeing many far away places and many seeing many far away places and many were afraid of the Vikings. were afraid of the Vikings.

The Vikings cont.The Vikings cont.

The fear comes from not knowing when The fear comes from not knowing when they would attack because their ships they would attack because their ships were quick and would sail up rivers to the were quick and would sail up rivers to the cities. cities.

People would be captured and sold as People would be captured and sold as slaves.slaves.

Vikings spread out and settled in Vikings spread out and settled in Normandy France, Iceland, Greenland, and Normandy France, Iceland, Greenland, and even reached North America (Canada) even reached North America (Canada) under Leif Eriksson. under Leif Eriksson.

Growth of Monarchies Growth of Monarchies

Alfred’s descendants continued to rule Alfred’s descendants continued to rule England.England.

William I a relative of a deceased William I a relative of a deceased English king from France takes over English king from France takes over the kingship by force.the kingship by force.

He puts his relatives in charge of his He puts his relatives in charge of his old position in France.old position in France.

Introduced French culture to England. Introduced French culture to England. Anglo-Saxon power grew and gained Anglo-Saxon power grew and gained

control of a large part of France.control of a large part of France.

Magna Carta!Magna Carta!

About 1200 CE that power started to About 1200 CE that power started to decreasedecrease

A king lost a lot of money in war and A king lost a lot of money in war and raised taxes on the nobles.raised taxes on the nobles.

Nobles refused and rebelled.Nobles refused and rebelled.They forced the king to sign the They forced the king to sign the

Magna CartaMagna Carta: a document that : a document that restricted the Kings power and restricted the Kings power and outlined their rights. outlined their rights.

Middle Ages progress Middle Ages progress

As power consolidates and stabilizes As power consolidates and stabilizes to the few, trade becomes safer.to the few, trade becomes safer.

People begin to demand more trade People begin to demand more trade goods.goods.

Economy and trade increase. Economy and trade increase. People also gained new rights after People also gained new rights after

the Magna Carta leading to the Magna Carta leading to Parliament. Parliament.

The crusadesThe crusades

A series of Church-sanctioned wars aimed at A series of Church-sanctioned wars aimed at recovering Jerusalem and the area around recovering Jerusalem and the area around (the holy land) that had fallen to Muslims.(the holy land) that had fallen to Muslims.

As the Byzantine Empire falls to the Turks As the Byzantine Empire falls to the Turks they ask the Pope Urban II for help. they ask the Pope Urban II for help.

““God wills it!”- thousands volunteer to fight. God wills it!”- thousands volunteer to fight. Nine crusades between 1096-1291. Nine crusades between 1096-1291. 11st-st- they won, 2 they won, 2nd- nd- failed, 3failed, 3rd- rd- draw, 4draw, 4thth and later and later

all failed. all failed.

Crusades cont. Crusades cont.

11stst: Crusaders wanted to fight non-: Crusaders wanted to fight non-Christians and had limited resources Christians and had limited resources attacked and slaughtered Jewish attacked and slaughtered Jewish communities. communities.

33rdrd: Salah ad-Din (Saladin) VS King Richard : Salah ad-Din (Saladin) VS King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England. the Lion-Hearted of England.

They fought each other for Jerusalem. They fought each other for Jerusalem. Both fierce military leaders and had great Both fierce military leaders and had great

respect for each other. respect for each other. 44thth: Crusaders attacked the Christian city : Crusaders attacked the Christian city

of Venice to pay Venetians who were to of Venice to pay Venetians who were to bring them to the holy land. bring them to the holy land.

The crusadesThe crusades

Re-opened trade routes with the east and trade Re-opened trade routes with the east and trade increased. increased.

Kings gained more power due to nobles and Kings gained more power due to nobles and knights dying and leaving land behind. knights dying and leaving land behind.

Muslim knowledge and culture spread.Muslim knowledge and culture spread. Relations between Christians and Jews Relations between Christians and Jews

decreased to a intolerant view of non-decreased to a intolerant view of non-Christians. Christians.

Many people off fighting in wars in foreign Many people off fighting in wars in foreign lands.lands.

Decreases population. Decreases population.

The Black Death The Black Death http://www.schooltube.com/video/ccc6a8f747a2ed3db3c6http://www.schooltube.com/video/ccc6a8f747a2ed3db3c6//

14th century (1347-1351) A plague changes 14th century (1347-1351) A plague changes decreases the population.decreases the population.

Not sure what disease it was. Not sure what disease it was. One theory: two forms bubonic plague spread One theory: two forms bubonic plague spread

through fleas on rats and pneumonic plague in through fleas on rats and pneumonic plague in the air from person to person.the air from person to person.

Entire continent of Europe and Asia were effected Entire continent of Europe and Asia were effected killing one-third of their populations. killing one-third of their populations.

Almost always fatal, dying in a few days. Almost always fatal, dying in a few days. With few people to work the lands to due death or With few people to work the lands to due death or

war, serfs gained leverage. war, serfs gained leverage. People began to negotiate rights. People began to negotiate rights. Others left the manor to the cities to become Others left the manor to the cities to become

workers. workers. Rise of the middle class. Rise of the middle class.

Medieval cultureMedieval culture There was both religious and non-religious There was both religious and non-religious

forms of cultural expression. forms of cultural expression. the Church’s expression was primarily the Church’s expression was primarily

architectural, literary, and musical architectural, literary, and musical Built church's and cathedrals in Roman style Built church's and cathedrals in Roman style

and later Gothic style. Ex. Cathedral of and later Gothic style. Ex. Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Notre Dame in Paris.

Engineering advancements enabled Engineering advancements enabled architects to increase the size of the architects to increase the size of the windows and allow more light into the windows and allow more light into the interior of buildings interior of buildings

Stained glass and intricate sculptures were Stained glass and intricate sculptures were common in churches. common in churches.

Literature and StudiesLiterature and Studies

Monks in monasteries contributed to the Monks in monasteries contributed to the literary history of the period both by literary history of the period both by copying works from the ancient world to copying works from the ancient world to preserve them and by writing new liturgy preserve them and by writing new liturgy and hymns for Church services. and hymns for Church services.

Universities that are still seen today Universities that are still seen today originated as schools for the church originated as schools for the church studying theology law and medicine. studying theology law and medicine.

Poets and authors like Geoffrey Chaucer Poets and authors like Geoffrey Chaucer and Petrarch, composed new literature.and Petrarch, composed new literature.

Alchemy an early chemistry aid later Alchemy an early chemistry aid later scientists in chemical reactions. scientists in chemical reactions.