Warm Up for 11/1/13 What do you know about Europe?

Germanic Kingdoms

Germanic Kingdoms Small kingdoms replaced Roman provinces Government changed Micro-managed

Franks Settled in Gaul during 400s Clovis- Early king Converted to Christianity 511 united all Franks into one kingdom

Charles Martel “The Hammer” Frankish ruler Battle of Tours 732 Drove the Moors (Muslims) out of France Huge victory for Christians

Vikings Germanic people from Scandinavia Called Norsemen Warriors and traders Attacked by ships Explored into Russia and North America Adopted Christianity and farming The Carolingian Empire began to fall apart soon after Charlemagne’s death in 814 and by 844 had been divided into 3 kingdoms by his grandsons. Invasions added to the problems already in existence. One group, the Vikings, were both marauding raiders as well as skilled farmers, sailors and explorers. They were called “Norsemen” because they were “north men”. Settled areas along rivers in northern Europe like Kiev in what is today Russia.

Other invaders Magyars Muslims Turkish, came from East Sold captives into slavery Attacked villages and monasteries Muslims Attacked from South Tried to settle Europe Controlled Med. Sea Looters All of these invaders posed a threat to the safety of the people, especially in the absence of a strong central government. People began to turn to local aristocrats or nobles to protect them. This change lead to the new political, social system called feudalism.

Feudalism Social order Granting land in return for loyalty and military service King/Monarch Nobles Clergy This system came about between the 9th and 10th centuries and lasted for 400 years. In this system the Monarch or King provided land to the lords who, in return, promised to support the monarch with knights. The Lords provided knights with land and food in return for the knights promising to fight for the lord. The lord also provided serfs/peasants with land and protection in return for the peasants producing food for the kingdom. Knights Peasants/Serfs

Social Classes Status determined power Lord- landowner Fief- land grant Vassal- receiver of fief Serfs- couldn’t leave birthplace

Feudal Terms Vassal: a man who served a lord militarily. Fief: land the lord granted to the vassal. Knight: heavily armored, mounted warriors. The heart of the feudal system was the idea of vassalage. It came from Germanic society, where warriors swore an oath to their leader. The Frankish army was initially made up of foot soldiers in mail (armor made of metal links or plates) armed with swords and horsemen who threw spears. In the 8th century, larger horses and the stirrup were introduced. Horsemen now wore mail and used long lances as battering rams. For the next 500 years, heavily armored cavalry were called knights and they dominated warfare. They had great prestige and formed the backbone of the European aristocracy. By the 9th century the land the lord granted to a vassal was known as a fief. Vassals had political authority in their fields. The number of separate powerful lords and vassals increased; many different people were now responsible for keeping order. Feudalism became complicated. Kings had vassals who themselves had vassals. Feudalism came to be characterized by a set of unwritten rules known as the feudal contract. These rules determined the relationship between lord and vassal. The major obligation of a vassal was military service, about 40 days a year. Vassals also were summoned to advise the lord and had financial obligations to the lord on such occasions as the marriage of the lord’s eldest daughter, knighting of his eldest son, or ransoming the lord. The lord had responsibilities to the vassal. He supported the vassal with a land grant (fief) and protected him militarily and in court.

Pepin the Short Son of Charles Martel Crowned “King by the Grace of God” Began Carolingian Dynasty

Charlemagne Pepin’s son Spread Christianity Crowned “Roman Emperor” by Pope Revived learning Reformed government

Charlemagne's Empire

Empire divided Charlemagne’s heirs were weak Grandsons fought over the land Treaty of Verdun Split empire into 3 kingdoms Carolingian kings lost power

Feudalism Discussion Copy down the following pyramid in your notes. In your own words, be able to explain how this feudal pyramid functions. We will have a class discussion!