1. Medieval Europe (500 – 1500)
The Early Middle Ages

2. The Middle Ages or Medieval Europe is the 1,000 year period after the fall of Rome and before the Renaissance.

3. Europe is on the western end of Eurasia.
I. Geography:
Europe is on the western end of Eurasia.

4. B. Natural Resources:
Dense forests
Fertile soil
Rich minerals
Seas

5. Greek & Roman learning forgotten
II. Causes
Tribal Warfare
No central gov’t
Dark Ages in W. Europe
Fall of Rome
Money is not used
Literacy declined
Greek & Roman learning forgotten

7. 2. Created small kingdoms
III. Germanic Tribes
A. Farmers and herders
1. No written laws
2. Created small kingdoms

8. Not these Franks!

9. B. The Franks- most powerful in Gaul (France)

10. 1. Clovis
1st King of the Franks
Allied (supported) with the Roman Catholic Church

11. - In 732 CE, the Franks defeated the Muslims in Spain.
2. The Battle of Tours
- In 732 CE, the Franks defeated the Muslims in Spain.
DON’T WRITE THIS
This could have changed European history! Christians did not want Islam to spread into Europe, even though they learned science and math from Arab Muslims.

12. C. Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
800 CE- king of the
Franks
2. Pope Leo III named
him Roman Emperor

14. 3. Legacy Blended and spread Christian, Roman and German culture
Efficient gov’t (bureaucracy)

15. Set up schools

16. Don’t write this!
Curriculums, or formal courses of study, included reading, grammar, math, music, and astronomy.

17. Don’t write this!
When Charlemagne died in 814, his empire fell apart as his heirs fought over it.
Peace Out, Charlemagne!

18. 4. The Treaty of Verdun divided the empire.

19. 5. This became the Holy Roman Empire.

20. Feudal Hierarchy

21. Draw this in your notes!
(the best you can)

22. Feudalism- A political system that exchanges land for military service.
DON’T WRITE THIS!
Lords gradually became more powerful than kings as they acquired more land.

23. loyalty & military service
I. Feudalism (Political)
King or lord
Was required to give a
fief (land)
Vassal
Was required to give
loyalty & military service

24. II. Social
Kings and Lords were at the top of the social hierarchy.

25. Knights- mounted warriors
Chivalry- code of
conduct for knights
be brave, loyal, polite

28. By the 1100’s, fighting declined so lords held tournaments (fake battles) to entertain people.

29. Serfs- peasants who worked the lord’s land
They couldn’t leave without permission
They paid for the lord’s protection in food and labor (no $$).

30. DON’T WRITE THIS! Role of Women
Noblewomen managed the household and were in change when men were away.
Rights:
Received a limited inheritance
Arranged marriages, expected to have many kids
Few knew how to read and write
Chivalry raised women to a new status. They were protected and cherished.

31. III. Economic
Manorialism- an economy where land, not money, is the basis of wealth

32. Manor- the lord’s estate including the town, peasant houses, church, and fields
- It was self-sufficient, which slowed trade

33. Three-field system- two fields planted, one left fallow (empty) to regain fertility

34. Remember
Europe was isolated BUT, there were advanced civilizations in the Middle East, South Asia, and China!