The Early Middle Ages 500 – 1000 CE

What empire continued in the East as the Western Roman Empire fell?

What was happening in Western Europe?

Barbarians have invaded and conquered throughout the West

But one cultural characteristic unified Western Europe. What do you think it is?

Christianity

The Church became an example of moral authority at a time of chaos and lawlessness

Power  and  Authority  in  Europe    from  500-­‐1000  CE  

• The Church was the most powerful institution in the West • It organized itself based on the structure of the Roman Empire • It united the people of Europe during this difficult time • It sought to revive the Roman • Empire

The Church developed a structure and

hierarchy based on the

Roman Empire

Pope  

Bishops  

Local  Priests  

The Pope was so powerful that he had the power to anoint Emperors.

Pope  Francis  I  

Medieval  society  was  rooted  in  Chris9anity,  the  classical  heritage  of  Rome  and  the  customs  of  the  Germanic  tribes.  

Germanic  Customs  • The  Germanic  tribes  had  no  wriDen  language-­‐  literacy  declined.    Most  people  in  Europe  at  this  9me  could  neither  read  nor  write.  

• Germanic  tribes  were    ruled  by  family  and  loyal  friends  rather  than    governments.  

• Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements. The most important books, like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, were preserved in monasteries.

• Missionaries carried Christianity and the Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes

• Parish priests served the social, religious and political needs of the people.

Armenian  Monastery  

Monastery  in  Greece  

Manasija  Monastery,  Serbia  

Many historians refer to this period in history as The Age of Faith. Why? With your neighbor, make a list of reasons why.

The Germanic tribes continued to invade and conquer Europe. The Frankish kingdom was established by Clovis who was the first Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity.

• Frankish  kings  used  military  power  to  expand  their  territory  • The  alliance  between  Frankish  kings  and  the  church  reestablished  Roman  culture  in  Western  Europe  

One King in particular would unite all of the Frankish kingdoms into an Empire – his name was Charles the great or Charlemagne.

Charlemagne revived the idea of the Roman Empire:

• Charlemagne  spread  Chris9anity  and  forced  conversion  throughout    Europe  

• Churches,  roads  and  schools  were  built    to  unite  the  empire.  

• Charlemagne  expanded  educa9on  to  all    

On Christmas Day, 800 C.E., Charles was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope before cheering crowds.

After Charlemagne died, his kingdom was carved into three kingdoms and then it fell apart. At the same time, invasions from the north and west, left Europeans with no protection. It was during this time that the system of Feudalism developed.

• The Vikings came from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) and invaded Along the coasts and down the rivers into Russia

• Angles and Saxons came from Denmark and Northern Germany and settled in England

• The Magyars came from Central Asia and settled in Hungary

• Muslims invaded from North Africa but were stopped by Charles Martel in 732 CE at the battle of Tours.

Feudalism Rises • A  system  of  landholding  and  governing  

•  It  was  based  on  an  exchange  of  protec9on  for  other  services  

lords  

Feudal System Lords  give  knights/vassals  land  (fief)  in  exchange  for  the  knights’  promise  to  defend  the    lord  and  his    land  

Feudal Society • Rigid  (strict)  class  structure  

Fief Land given to a Vassal from a Lord

Vassal The person receiving the fief

Serf Peasants who work the land

The Medieval Manor

Manors with castles provided protection from invaders, reinforcing the feudal system.

Invasions disrupted trade, towns declined and the feudal system was strengthened.

Manors were self-contained – long distance trade would not develop with the east until after the crusades in 1096 CE.

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hDp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Invasions_of_the_Roman_Empire_1.png  hDp://www.ntnu.no/ub/formidl/utgivelser/9l_opplysning/to_nr9.php  hDp://weblogs.bal9moresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2009/09/local_priest_on_throwdown_with.html  hDp://leffortcamerounais.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/26/bishops.gif  hDp://www.polishamericancenter.org/Pictures/pope-­‐new2.jpg  hDp://www.vlib.us/medieval/graphics/0768.gif  hDp://www.chris9an-­‐history.org/image-­‐files/charlemagne-­‐durer-­‐wcpd.jpg  hDp://www.freewallpaperpic.com/wp/royal/31440/Sacre_de_Charlemagne.jpg  hDp://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/hy/Ashley/HY10502Web/hy105/Assets/Maps/Map_-­‐_Viking_Islam__Magyar_Invasions_to_11C.JPG