The Middle Ages

Review last time Where was the Byzantine Empire? What’s the relationship between Christianity and the Byzantine Empire? Where was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and what was so significant about its location?

What happened to the west? It was destroyed and run over by the Germanic Invaders People are spread out throughout the land Ruled in small groups / kingdoms

Charlemagne – uniting kingdoms in Western Europe Politics Once Rome fell, Western Europe was in decline; someone needed to gather together the feuding small kingdoms Kingdom under Charlemagne was so large, he needed help Selected counts – they would obey Charlemagne, and in return receive large pieces of land to rule Would send inspectors to keep tabs on everyone

Charlemagne – uniting kingdoms in Western Europe Education Wanted leaders to read and write Ordered monasteries to start schools Taught religion, music, grammar, etc Invited scholars from all over Copied and distributed ancient texts

Charlemagne – uniting kingdoms in Western Europe Religion Wanted to preserve Christianity Ordered those he conquered to convert, or die Sent monks to live among those conquered to help Christianity spread

Charlemagne – uniting kingdoms in Western Europe Law Recorded law All was in vain – after Charlemagne’s death, his kingdom split apart Regional kings rose to power and disunity spread Invaders didn’t help the situation

Muslims in the west Came to Europe to conquer Remember, they’re a religion, but also a political power Came in 711 AS to Iberian Peninsula (Spain) Would rule there for more than 700 years Would soon try to sweep into France and Italy Muslims raided Rome (home of Christianity in the west) Destroyed many ancient churches Blocked Byzantine trade in the Mediterranean

Feudalism and Manors Feudalism - Nobles built castles to protect themselves when their kings couldn’t help Nobles trained soldiers (knights) to protect the castle Knights paid with land (called fief) Anyone who accepted land was called a vassal, and the person giving land was called a lord Most served more than one lord Manors – large estates Usually owned by lords or knights Needed serfs to work the land Look at page 385 for a closer look at a manor

Trade Increased trade means bigger cities Would hold trade fairs Merchants traveled from one to another throughout the year Advancing technology (windmill, water mill) allowed more people to move to the city Guilds established Craftsmen would organize to set standards and prices for their goods Would accept apprentices