Period 3: Postclassical Europe The Middle Ages

TOWER OF LONDON

What is a manor? A manor was the lord’s estate

What is the manorial system? The manor system was the basic economic arrangement which rested on a set of rights and obligations between a lord and his serfs. The lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland, and protection from bandits. In return, the serfs tended the lord’s lands, cared for his animals, and performed other tasks to maintain the estate. -Some peasants where called serfs.

Typical Manor Life Manor house – this is the dwelling place of the lord, his family and their servants. Village church – building in which religious services and public meetings took place. Peasant cottages – place where the peasants lived. Lord’s demesne (domain) – fields owned by the lord and worked by the peasants. Peasants croft (hill) – gardens that belonged to the peasants. Mill – water powered mill for grinding grain. Common pasture – common area for grazing animals. Woodland – forests provided wood for fuel.

What is Feudalism? A political system in which nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king. In return, the nobles agreed to give their loyalty and military services to the king.

European Feudal System

Charlemagne Charlemagne became the Frankish king after his father and brother died. He extended Frankish rule by conquering new lands. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned him emperor. It was a historic coronation in that a pope had claimed the political right to confer the title “Roman Emperor” on a European king.

Charlemagne’s Coronation

Charlemagne’s Achievements spread Christianity reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire became the most powerful king in western Europe crushed unruly mob in Rome that had attacked the pope was crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III encouraged learning by surrounding himself with English, German, Italian and Spanish scholars. Opened palace school Ordered monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priest.

Why did Germany not unify? The German kings continued their attempts to revive the Charlemagne’s empire and his alliance with the church. This policy led to wars with Italian cities and to further clashes with the Pope. The system of German princes electing the king weakened royal authority.

What did unify medieval society? shared beliefs in the teachings of the church. The church was a stable force during an era of constant warfare and political turmoil. In the middle ages religion occupied center stage.

Alliances In 496, Clovis, the Frankish king, led his warriors against another Germanic army. Fearing defeat, Clovis prayed to his wife’s Christian God for help. The tide of the battle changed and the Franks won. Afterwards Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors were baptized by the bishop. The Roman Church welcomed Clovis’s conversion and supported his campaigned against other Germans.

The Pope becomes a powerhouse! Pope Gregory I, also called “Gregory the Great” expanded the authority of the church to include politics. Under Gregory the papacy became secular (worldly). The palace was the center of Roman government. He used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poor. He also negotiated peace treaties with invaders.

Role of the Church Power in the church was based on status. The Pope in Rome headed the church. All clergy (including bishops and priest) fell under his (pope’s) authority. The Bishops supervised the priest. Priests were the lowest ranking members of the clergy. In most instances the local priests served as the main contact with the Church.

TOWNS Towns drew large numbers of people, making changes in the social order necessary

Trade As trade grew, towns all over Europe swelled with people. The excitement and bustle of towns drew many people. People also moved to towns to pursue the economic and social opportunities they offered.

Commerical Revolution