The Middle Ages: The Rise of

Europe

Mr. Giesler

Global Studies

Topics To Be Examined

The Early Middle Ages

Feudalism and Manorialism

The Role of the Church

European Expansion

The Growth of England & France

Religious, Social, and Political

Crisis

Exactly who were these Barbarians? In Europe, the Germans dominated through tribes such as:

Alamanni, Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Gepids, Goths, Lombards and

Vandals. (Look familiar??)

They wandered across Europe in an incohesive manner.

These barbarian tribes destroyed many of the buildings and

works of art that survived from Roman times.

Many of the old arts and crafts of western Europe were destroyed

during the Dark Ages. During the Dark Ages, population decreased

and economic life became more primitive.

TTYN: What was their motivation?

Land and Revenge

Most Germanic (The Barbarians) were farmers of herders

Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was king of the Franks and Christian

emperor of the West. 

The Age of Charlemagne

Carolingian Empire - named to protect the papacy and establish

the pope

and bishops are the makers of kings

Charlemagne became the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a

dynasty that would last for more than 700 years

Timeline: 768-814

Government – More of an overseer than an autocratic dictator

Appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions; provided them

land in exchange for support and soldiers for his armies

missi domenici – officials working for Charlemagne that inspected

the nobles; to check on the infrastructure, listen to grievances, and

confirm that justice was done

“Let the missi make a diligent investigation Whenever any man claims that an injustice has been done to him by

anyone…And they shall administer the law fully and justly in the case of the holy churches of God and of the poor, of wards and of wisdom, and of the

whole people”

Feudalism and ManorialismKey terms

Fief - Land given by a lord in return for a vassal’s military service

and oath of loyalty

Serfs - Common peasants who worked the lords land

Tithe - tax that serfs paid (tax or rent)

Corvee - condition of unpaid labor by serfs (maintaining roads or

ditches on a manor)

Feudalism

TTYN: Describe Feudalism Relationship between those ranked in a chain of association (kings, vassals, lords, knights, serfs)

Feudalism: How it Evolved into an Economic, Social, Political System of Government

Invasions by Vikings, Muslims, Magyars prompted kings and

emperors to devise a system

Need to defend homes and lands

Vows taken

Small Group Activity Roll the clock back to the year 1176, create a vow (contract)

between you (king or emperor) and a noble or knight

“I promise on my faith that I will in future to

King William and will observe my (loyalty) to

him completely against all persons in

good faith and without deceit”

The king then touched the noble with a small rod. With that gesture, he granted the noble a parcel of land, including any towns, castles, or people on it.

Feudalism

Role of noble women Played an active role

“Lord of Manor” – while her husband or father was off fighting

Supervised vassals

managed the household

Inheritance limited (eldest son)

Chivalry Knights adopted a code of conduct

Required knights to be brave, loyal, and true to their word

Warfare – fight fairly and be generous to the enemy

Protect women and be cherished

Manorialism

The heart of the medieval economy

Manor = Lord’s estate

Most included one or more village

Peasants made up the majority of society

Peasants = Serfs - Common peasants who worked the lords land

Bound to the land…not slaves, but yet, not free

Mutual rights and responsibilities tied the lord and serf together

Peasants had to farm the lord’s land, make repairs, and paid the lord a

fee when they married, when they inherited their father’s acres, or when

they used the local mill to grind grain.

Usually paid with products such as grain, fruit, chickens, etc…

In return, peasants had the right to farm for themselves, protection, and

could not be forced off the land.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Other than the Muslims in Spain and groups of Jews, virtually

everyone else in Western Europe was a member of the Roman

Catholic Church.

Church teachings helped people accept the hardships of their life

on Earth.

People endured cruel lords, unjust laws, and poor living

conditions.

They believed that such hardships would earn them entry to

heaven. As a result, the Middle Ages was not a time

Responsibility of Church – spiritual needs; instruction; taught that

all men and women were sinners

Could achieve salvation or eternal life through faith in Jesus, good

works, and participation in sacraments

THREE-FIELD SYSTEMField 1 Field 2 Field 3

Year IWinter crop

Summer crop Fallow

Year II FallowWinter crop Summer

Year IIISummer crop Fallow

Winter crop

Year IVWinter crop

Summer crop Fallow

TWO-FIELD SYSTEMField 1 Field 2

Year I Winter crop Fallow

Year II Fallow Winter crop

Year III Winter crop Fallow

“A Horse is a Horse, of Course”

The Crusades

Pope Urban II calls the first Crusade.

1095-1291

After

Muslims(Seljuk

Turks) were

threatening the

Byzantine Empire

(Christians), Pope

Urban II calls for

Christians from

Western Europe to

protect the

Byzantine Empire

and to capture the

Holy Land from its

Muslim inhabitants

Motivation for the Crusades

The Holy Land was holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims (especially

Jerusalem)

Jerusalem, Place where Jesus was born and died

Religion played a large role in what people did and where they lived;

Jerusalem, was of particular importance because of its religious

significance

Why Jerusalem? Muslims were searching for adventure and riches

(mostly riches)

Fewer opportunities in feudal Europe

Initial result of this action: Hatred of Muslims

The name Crusade given to the Holy Wars came from old French

word 'crois' meaning 'cross'. 

The first Crusade was the first and last victory for the Crusaders.

Christian victory during the first Crusade is largely due to the

inability of the Muslims to mount an organized defense