THE MEDIEVAL WORLDTHE MEDIEVAL WORLD

The Middle Ages The Middle Ages

800 – 1500 AD800 – 1500 AD

THE MIDDLE AGESTHE MIDDLE AGES• Two general time periods

– Early Middle Ages• 800 – 1215• Big Picture: Rome fell in 456 AD, leaving

Europe without a strong empire. Christianity spreads, as well as new political systems

– High Middle Ages• 1000 – 1500• Big Picture: Feudalism is replaced by growth of

cites/towns. Trade increases, religion remains a constant in people’s lives

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

• Fall of Rome in 476:Fall of Rome in 476:– Lack of strong central governmentLack of strong central government

• Dark period for all of EuropeDark period for all of Europe– Constant invasions: Vikings, Muslim TurksConstant invasions: Vikings, Muslim Turks– Scant resourcesScant resources

• Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church – Fills void left by collapse of classical worldFills void left by collapse of classical world– Controlled about 1/3 of land in western Controlled about 1/3 of land in western

EuropeEurope

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND (continued)(continued)

• Invasions = European life reorganized: Invasions = European life reorganized: FEUDALISMFEUDALISM– Social, political, economic systemSocial, political, economic system

• Economic system: MANORIALISMEconomic system: MANORIALISM

• England, France, Holy Roman Empire, England, France, Holy Roman Empire, Spain, PortugualSpain, Portugual– Example: William the Conqueror divided Example: William the Conqueror divided

England into fiefsEngland into fiefs

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

SOCIAL: Early Middle AgesSOCIAL: Early Middle Ages

•FEUDALISM was a political, economic and social system based on loyalty and military service.

SOCIAL: Early Middle SOCIAL: Early Middle AgesAges

and Feudalism and Feudalism• Life centered around Life centered around manors = manorialismmanors = manorialism– Castle or manorCastle or manor– MillMill– Farm landFarm land– ChurchChurch– Peasant villagePeasant village

• Little mobility – hard to Little mobility – hard to move up in social classmove up in social class

SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages and Feudalismand Feudalism

SOCIAL: FeudalismSOCIAL: Feudalism• Road to Knighthood:Road to Knighthood:

– KNIGHTKNIGHT

– SQUIRESQUIRE

– PAGEPAGE

• ChivalryChivalry– ““Chivalry is not dead!”Chivalry is not dead!”– Code of honor & behaviorCode of honor & behavior

SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages and SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages and WomenWomen

• Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine– Inherited land, born into Inherited land, born into

wealthwealth– Age 15 = married king of Age 15 = married king of

FranceFrance– Later in life married Later in life married

Henry II of EnglandHenry II of England• Added to the lands she Added to the lands she

ownedowned• Allowed to rule over Allowed to rule over

French landsFrench lands• Marriage fell apart = Marriage fell apart =

imprisoned for 15 years imprisoned for 15 years until husband’s deathuntil husband’s death

SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages SOCIAL: Early Middle Ages and Womenand Women

• Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine– Crusades:Crusades:

• Holy Wars that Christians Holy Wars that Christians waged to take Holy Land waged to take Holy Land back from Muslimback from Muslim

– During Crusades, she:During Crusades, she:• Joined 100’s of friendsJoined 100’s of friends• Volunteered to tend Volunteered to tend

wounded soldiers in the wounded soldiers in the warwar

• Described as wearing Described as wearing armor and carrying a lancearmor and carrying a lance

SOCIAL: High Middle SOCIAL: High Middle AgesAges• Small, crowded cites

• Tenement style buildings• No public sanitation facilities

– trash, waste in streets– Leads to Bubonic Plague

• High crime, violence• Church, eating halls, markets for socializing• Trade organizations: guilds

– Also provided opportunities for socializing

SOCIAL: High Middle SOCIAL: High Middle AgesAgesBlack Death aka Bubonic PlagueBlack Death aka Bubonic Plague

• First appeared in ChinaFirst appeared in China• Between 1347 and 1353Between 1347 and 1353• Spread by fleas on rats in crowded Spread by fleas on rats in crowded

cities, filthy conditionscities, filthy conditions• Global epidemicGlobal epidemic

– Killed one in three Europeans Killed one in three Europeans (25,000,000)(25,000,000)

• Halted growth of population, trade, Halted growth of population, trade, industry, cultural exchangeindustry, cultural exchange

SOCIAL: High Middle Ages SOCIAL: High Middle Ages and Womenand Women

• Joan of ArcJoan of Arc– Lived 1412 – 1431Lived 1412 – 1431– Hundred Years War: England vs. Hundred Years War: England vs.

France; Who was heir to French France; Who was heir to French thronethrone

– Catholic, claimed saints told her Catholic, claimed saints told her to lead French in battleto lead French in battle

– At 17, given a small army to At 17, given a small army to lead; several victories!lead; several victories!

– Captured, condemned as Captured, condemned as heretic, burned at the stakeheretic, burned at the stake

– Later cleared of all charges and Later cleared of all charges and made a saintmade a saint

POLITICAL: CharlemagnePOLITICAL: Charlemagne800 AD800 AD

• King of Franks, proclaimed King of Franks, proclaimed “Emperor of the Romans” by “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo IIIPope Leo III

• Europe unified for first time Europe unified for first time since Fall of Romesince Fall of Rome

• Established a permanent Established a permanent capital in modern day capital in modern day GermanyGermany– Couldn’t oversee entire Couldn’t oversee entire

empireempire– Appointed local Appointed local

administrators who were administrators who were loyal = countsloyal = counts

POLITICAL/RELIGION: POLITICAL/RELIGION: The Church in the WestThe Church in the West

• Lines dividing politics & religion blurred Lines dividing politics & religion blurred • Roman Catholic Church reunited most Roman Catholic Church reunited most

parts of Western Europe parts of Western Europe (Charlemagne)(Charlemagne)

• Religious ceremonies important to daily Religious ceremonies important to daily lifelife

• Largest landholderLargest landholder• Gained wealth thru tithing Gained wealth thru tithing

– Tithing: specified donation amountTithing: specified donation amount

• Often clashed with authority of KingsOften clashed with authority of Kings– Church had own laws/courtsChurch had own laws/courts

POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS: POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS: The Crusades in the EastThe Crusades in the East

• 1090’s Muslims invade Byzantine Empire1090’s Muslims invade Byzantine Empire

– Conquered Holy Land (Jerusalem)Conquered Holy Land (Jerusalem)

– Christians/Muslims/Jews all Christians/Muslims/Jews all considered it their Holy Land considered it their Holy Land

• Pope calls for crusade to free the landPope calls for crusade to free the land

– ““crusades” from Latin = crosscrusades” from Latin = cross

• Those who volunteered called Those who volunteered called crusaders, meaning took Jesus’ crusaders, meaning took Jesus’ cross upon themcross upon them

– Nine crusades over approx. 200 Nine crusades over approx. 200 yearsyears

• Richard the Lion HeartedRichard the Lion Hearted

– Only king who actually fought in Holy Only king who actually fought in Holy LandLand

POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS: POLITICAL/RELIGIOUS: The Crusades in the EastThe Crusades in the East

Outcomes:• Cultural diffusion & increased trade• Kings gained additional land/power• Europeans viewed non-Christians as

enemies– Persecution of Jews in Europe; Jews & Muslims

in Holy Land

• Cities grew: feudalism begins to phase out– Merchants

• Especially wealthy Italian city-states: Venice, Florence

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL

• Magna Carta, 1215Magna Carta, 1215– Great BritainGreat Britain– Literally “great charter”Literally “great charter”– Basic message: monarchs were Basic message: monarchs were

not above the lawnot above the law• Limited the power of the kingLimited the power of the king• Consult with council of advisorsConsult with council of advisors

– Today’s British parliamentToday’s British parliament– Two housesTwo houses

• Could not arbitrarily tax Could not arbitrarily tax

The Magna Carta

•Considered to be one of the documents our Constitution based on.

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUALINTELLECTUALINTELLECTUALRomanesque Architecture

•Rounded arches

• Barrel vaults

• Thick walls

• Darker, simplistic interiors

• Small windows, usually at the top of the wall

•Developed into Gothic architecture

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL• Gothic architectureGothic architecture

– Pointed archesPointed arches– High narrow vaulted High narrow vaulted

ceilingsceilings– Flying buttresses Flying buttresses – Elaborate, ornate Elaborate, ornate

interiorinterior– Stained glass Stained glass

windowswindows

Stained glass window Chartres CathedralCirca 1612

Interior Chartres Cathedral

Our Lady of Chartres CathedralChartres, France• Built 1193 – 1250•176 stained glass windows, most still intact •Windows removed in 1939 prior to Germany invasion during WWII.

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL• Illumination

– Most common: large first letter on a page, brought religious texts to life

• Tapestry– Most art religious; some scenes from

history or daily life– Hung in castles; prevented drafts– Bayeux Tapestry

• Tells story of a major victory over England• http://www.cosmolearning.com/videos/bayeux-

tapestry-animated-version/

INTELLECTUAL: ArtINTELLECTUAL: Art

Illuminated manuscripts from The Book of Kells, circa 800, a Latin edition of the four gospels; on dislpay at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592.

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL• Literature

– The Canterbury Tales• Geoffrey Chaucer• Movie: A Knight’s Tale loosely

based on this story• Increased use of written English;

wealthy spoke French at this time

– The Divine Comedy• Dante Alighieri• Trip through afterlife in 3 parts:

Hell, Purgatory and Paradise• Increased used of written Italian

• Universities

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY• Printing Press Printing Press

– Johannes Johannes Gutenberg Gutenberg

– Moveable type; 1Moveable type; 1stst book printed = book printed = bible in1456bible in1456

– Books readily Books readily available available

– Literacy and Literacy and ideas spread ideas spread rapidlyrapidly

ECONOMIC: Early Middle AgesECONOMIC: Early Middle Ages• Manors self-sufficientManors self-sufficient

– All economic activity took place on manorAll economic activity took place on manor

• KingKing

– Gave: land to lords, protectionGave: land to lords, protection

– Received: money, military service, adviceReceived: money, military service, advice

• LordsLords

– Gave: land grant to knights, protection to kingGave: land grant to knights, protection to king

– Received: Money from serfs, military service Received: Money from serfs, military service from knights, protection from Kingfrom knights, protection from King

• KnightsKnights

– Gave: protection to the lord, KingGave: protection to the lord, King

– Received: crops & labor from serfs, military Received: crops & labor from serfs, military paypay

• SerfsSerfs

– Gave: labor, cropsGave: labor, crops

– Received: land to farmReceived: land to farm

Life on the Medieval ManorLife on the Medieval ManorLife on the Medieval ManorLife on the Medieval Manor

SerfsSerfs at work at work

ECONOMIC: High Middle AgesECONOMIC: High Middle Ages

• Trade increases after CrusadesTrade increases after Crusades• Cities develop all over EuropeCities develop all over Europe

– Italian cities in south dominate trade:Italian cities in south dominate trade:• Venice, Genoa, Florence, Pisa, MilanVenice, Genoa, Florence, Pisa, Milan• Wealth leads to the RenaissanceWealth leads to the Renaissance

– Northern Germany dominates trade in northNorthern Germany dominates trade in north

• Commodities traded included furs, Commodities traded included furs, textiles, wool, wine, gold, slaves, dried textiles, wool, wine, gold, slaves, dried fruits, spices, silkfruits, spices, silk