The Middle AgesGlobal AIS Unit 6

MAP AND TIMELINEFor your reference

THE DARK AGES

Basic TermsDark Ages (Middle Ages)

◦Began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD

◦Lasted until 800 AD (when Charlemagne is crowned)

◦Happened in Western EuropeMedieval

◦Another name for the Middle Ages

Barbarian TribesConsidered uncivilized and

uneducated◦Barbarian: Roman term for people who

didn’t speak LatinMade of Germanic people from

northern and eastern EuropePushed westward by the Huns from

Asia and Vikings from the far north◦Huns: fierce, savage fighters (Mulan)

Ruined most of what the Roman Empire had created

Effects of the “Fall of Rome” on Western EuropeNo more centralized government

◦No protection◦Roads crumbled◦Trade declined◦Communities couldn’t communicate

Different languages emerged, like French, Spanish and Italian

Roman Catholic Church became the ONLY common organization in Europe

Conditions in Europe during the Dark AgesUnorganized

◦No centralized governmentUneducated

◦No formal schoolingPoor

◦No organized trade

CHAOS

EXCEPT Charlemagne’s KingdomFrankish Kingdom: a German

tribe in FranceLeader: Charles the Great aka

CharlemagneSuccessful for three reasons

◦Ties to the Roman Catholic Church Remember: the only uniting body

◦Supported education◦Began feudalism in France

FEUDALISM

FeudalismA “type of government”Organized but not centralizedLocally-run system based on

landownership (the manor)

How Feudalism WorkedEveryone belonged to a social

class and got what they neededBased on allegiance (loyalty) to a

lord

The Manor◦Self-sufficient◦All Land owned by the lord

Includes the lord’s house, farms, fields, forest, village, church, and peasant’s homes

The Feudal Manor

ManorialismEconomic relationship between

the lord and the people who work for him

Giving and receiving of goods and services

King

Nobles:Lord, Knight

Titles:Duke/BaronEarl/Marquis

Peasants:Priests

Craftsmen (freemen: could move)

Serfs (bound to the land)

Provides: Work (service)Food

Provides:LandProtection

More Manor TermsLord

◦Anyone above you in the feudal system◦Made rules◦Ex. Knight is a lord to a priest

Vassal◦Anyone below you in a feudal system◦Followed the Lord’s rules◦Ex. Priest is a vassal to a knight

Serf◦Belongs to the manor and is not allowed to

move◦“Bound to the land”

More Manor TermsKnights

◦Noble warriors: protectors of the kingdom◦Called “sir”◦Highly trained and well-respected

Chivalry◦Moral code of conduct that required

knights to possess: Bravery Loyalty Courtesy Generosity Charity

Why Feudalism is a Political System

◦Lords are leaders, lawmakers, judges◦Complaints/ disputes resolved by the

lordSocial System

◦People ranked according to social class

Economic System◦Ensured everyone got what they

needed◦Everyone could survive

ROLE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

An Organizing ForceOnly organized institution in Europe

◦Main tool for communication Spread news and ideas

◦Gave the church GREAT powerEducation (Monastic System)

◦Monks lived in monasteries◦Monks read/wrote fluently

Often only ones who could in a community

◦Monks copied books and kept knowledge preserved Copied by hand, word for word

More Organizing ForceInfluence on the people

◦Spiritually taught people how to get to heaven

◦Politically had great influence Even had some power over kings

◦Economically: people had to pay a tithe (tax) of 10% of their income/crops to the church

Structure of the Church◦Hierarchy: instructions from God to the

pope to the people through the clergy

Church Hierarchy

Pope (in Rome)Archbishops (cardinals)BishopsPriestsPeople

Influence on Art and ArchitectureGothic Architecture

◦Very detailed and beautifulCathedrals

◦Huge churches◦Dedicated to the glory of God◦Used as a visual tool to understand

ChristianityUse of art in the Church

◦Taught people, mostly illiterate, about Christianity

◦Art was based on religious themes

Gothic Cathedrals

Art in Churches

Jesus’ Crucifixion

The Last Supper

Jesus’ Birth

Important Church TermsHeresy

◦Major crime during those days◦Speaking out against the Church◦Disagreeing with the Church’s

teachingsExcommunication

◦Being forced to leave the Church◦Cut you off from all the good stuff

that came with the church (literacy, unification, charity)

THE CRUSADES

The Crusades1100s-1200sA series of “Holy Wars”European Christians vs. Muslims

Causes (All Christian)Wanted to take back the Holy

Land (Jerusalem)Church wanted more powerThe fighters believed their sins

would be forgiven and they would go to heaven

Church wanted to gain landSerfs hoped to escape feudalism

Impact of the CrusadesChristians did not retake the Holy

LandChristians gained things through

cultural diffusion that changed their culture ◦Learned from Muslims

Math, science, literature, art, medicine

◦Reintroduced to Greek and Roman ideas Art, philosophy, literature Remember: The ideas had been preserved by

the Byzantine and Muslim Empires

Impact of the Crusades cont’d

Crusaders brought back new products◦Silk, spices, cotton, fruits, dyes,

medicines◦Demand for new products improved

trade

Demand for products started new markets growth of towns

Impact of the Crusades (cont’d)

Overall Impact on Europe◦Learning increased◦“Beginning of the end” for Feudalism◦Economy improved◦Set up a base for the Renaissance◦Created lasting religious tensions

between Christians and Muslims

Important People During the CrusadesPope Urban II: initiated the First

CrusadeRichard the Lion-Hearted (King of

England): led the Third CrusadeSaladin (1100s): Great

warrior/leader of Turkish Muslims◦Reunited the Muslim world against

the Christian advances

OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE MIDDLE AGES

The Hundred Years WarWhat It Was

◦England vs. FranceWhen

◦1300s-1400sWhy

◦England claimed the throne of FranceEffects on European Culture

◦New weapons invented Longbow: ended knights fighting in armor Cannon (gunpowder): ended castles as a

defense

Joan of ArcHeretic or Saint?Biography

The PlagueWhat It Was

◦A disease with no cure (at the time)◦Also called the Bubonic Plague or

Black DeathWhen

◦Began in the 1340sHow It Spread

◦By fleas on rats◦Brought from Asia by traders◦Worse in crowded cities

Impact on EuropeSocially

◦ Killed 1/3 of Europeans◦ People began to question the power of the

ChurchEconomically

◦ Survivors gained wealth from what victims left behind

◦ People could demand higher wages because of the lack of workers

Politically◦ End of feudalism (peasants revolted)◦ Growth of new political systems (monarchs got

more power)

The PlagueHollaback Girl Song Parody