Medieval EuropeWorld History

Chapter 13

Beginning of the Middle (Ages) Most people were peasants After the Roman Empire fell, Visigoths, Vandals,

Burgunds, and Ostrogoths built small kingdoms and plundered Europe

Franks settle in Gaul (called themselves the Merovingians)

Pepin II made office; his son, Charles Martel defeated the invasion of the Spanish Moors

Pepin’s other son, Charlemagne, became King of the Franks; defeated the Moors and expanded control

Pope names Charlemagne as the successor to the Roman Empire

England William the Conqueror made each

feudal lord to swear allegiance to him (laying the foundation for centralized gov’ts)

William’s son, Henry I, created the first treasurer (called Exchequer)

Henry II created the first grand jury Henry II tried to increase power by

forcing the Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Becket) to move to a royal court; he refused and was killed

England, continued… Henry II’s son, King John, created

a riot by forcing nobles to pay taxes

He was forced to sign the Magna Carta which gave rights to the nobles

Magna Carta became basis for democracy in England

Nobles revolted on King Henry III in 1260

The Parliament King Henry III

created a Parliament that included middle class, nobles, and clergy

Parliament contains two houses:1. Upper house –

House of Lords2. Lower house –

House of Commons

France Last Carolingian

king dies in France so the Capetian kings take over

Began to unite separate provinces under one rule

Only the oldest son of a ruler would inherit the throne to keep unity

The Pope Problems Pope ruled the Papal

states in Italy In 936, Otto the Great

unified the kingdoms in Germany

The Pope crowned Otto the King of the Romans

Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV conflicted because Henry wanted to appoint the bishops

Pope Gregory excommunicated Henry for it

Pope continued… Frederick Barbosa

ruled Germany from 1152 to 1190

Barbosa wanted to capture the rich states of Lombardy in northern Italy

Aided by the Pope, they formed the Lombard League and beat back Barbosa

Vikings Most feared invaders

came from Scandinavia

Also called Danes, Northmen, and Norse

Had sails and oars Sailed coasts & rivers

of Germany, France, Iceland, Greenland, and North America

Savage, cruel, plundered

Viking ship

Feudalism Feudalism – political system where kings (or

nobles) grant lands to nobles for loyalty, troops, and services

Lord – person who grants the land Vassal – person who held the land Fief – when you grant land overtime (becomes

hereditary) Manor – large estate (big house) in feudalism Serfs – most peasants on a manor were called

this; provided labor services, paid rents, and were subject to the lords control; legally bound to a lord’s land

Structure of Feudalism

A Serf’s Life Boys: uneducated, worked all the time,

no fun Girls: married by 13, pregnant all their

lives, died at an early age Pregnancy led to early deaths of mothers Alcoholics High infant mortality rate; Low life

expectancy Low nutrition levels; bad diets; poor

sanitation

A Serf’s Life

Feudal Trials Knights – wore iron suits; fought with a code

among knights called chivalry Feudal Trials: 3 types

1. Trial by battle (duel)2. Trial by oath (court)3. Trial by ordeal (torture)

Sacraments – a religious ceremony, blessing, or rite that a priest would perform

Monasticism – a way of life that was used in convents and monasteries; it means they ignored the outside world and focused on religion

Chain mail

Trial by Oath & Trial by Ordeal

Study for your TEST!