Section 1 We call Europe a continent but it is a part of Eurasia. The landmass that is part Europe and Asia. Mountain ranges cover most of southern Europe. The boundary between Europe and Asia are the Ural Mountains. The major rivers are located in the Northern European Plain.

Cont… Topography of Southern Europe Southern Europe-high mountains Northern European Plain-large area of flat land with many rivers

Cont… Rivers located in the Northern European Plain Seine Rhine Po Elbe Danube Vistula Dnieper

Section 2 Middle Ages-from 500 to 1500. It is called middle because it falls between ancient times and modern times. Medieval- middle ages

Cont… At the beginning of the middle ages, many of the kingdoms were not Christian. Christianity was located primarily in Spain and Italy (The Roman Empire) Two groups spread Christianity- monks and missionaries

Cont… The most powerful force to spread Christianity was the Pope. Missionaries are people that try to convert people to a particular religion. One of the first missionaries to travel to Northern Europe was St. Patrick. He was not sent by the Pope, he went on his own.

Cont.. Monks lived apart from society in their isolated communities. These communities were called monasteries. They had to follow a set of rules that were intended to help them live as good Christians. An Italian monk named Benedict formed a set of rules for the monks to live by.

Cont…. In 480, The Franks conquered Gaul. Gaul is what we know as France. Under the ruler Clovis, the Franks became Christian and was one of the strongest kingdoms in Europe.

Cont… Charlemagne appeared as ruler in the late 700’s. He led the Franks in building a huge empire. He spent a great deal of time at war conquering many lands. By the time he was finished he acquired what is now known as France.

Cont… He also conquered many parts of what was the Roman Empire. For this reason the Pope on Christmas Day, 800, crowned him Emperor of the Romans.

Cont… Invaders threatened much of Europe in the 700 and 800’s. The group that was the most feared were the Vikings. Settlements were attacked. Fields destroyed. Towns and monasteries were looted. Prisoners were sold into slavery.

Section 3 Feudal Society Kings and Queens Kings and queens were the greatest lords of Europe. All nobles and knights were their vassals.

Cont…. Feudal Society Kings and Queens Nobles Knights Peasants

Cont… Knights and Land Knights fought on horseback. They fought for the nobles. They received land instead of money for their military service. Vassal- a knight who promised to support a lord in exchange for land. He swore he would always be loyal to his lord. Feudalism- system of promises that governed the relationship between lords and vassals.

Cont… Relationship between lords and vassals were the heart of feudalism. A lord had to send help to his vassal if needed. He had to be fair. Couldn’t cheat them. If a lord failed to do what he needed to all ties could be broken.

Cont.. Vassals Vassals had to go to war with lords. Had to gift monetary gifts if their daughter gets married or when a lords son became a knight. Had to give his lord food and shelter if he came to visit. If a vassal gained enough land he could become a lord.

Cont… Feudalism first created by the Franks. Brought to England by William who was the duke of Normandy in northern France. He defeated the king of England at Hastings. After winning he declared himself king. He was known as William the Conqueror.

Cont.. Knights were too busy to work in the fields. That was given to the peasants. A large estate that was owned by a knight or lord was called a manor. Peasants and serfs were tied to the land on which they lived. Serfs received protection and small pieces of land for their working in the fields.

Cont… The lord of the manor controlled everything that happened on his land. His word was law. Solved disputes and punishments were given to people that misbehaved. Collected taxes from the people that lived on his land.

Cont… Women had fewer rights than men. Had to obey wishes of fathers and husbands. Peasant women worked to support their families. Noblewomen ran the household and supervised servants. Governed houses when men went to war.

Cont… Towns were small. Most people lived on farms. What led to growth of towns was a bigger population and more food was available due to new technology. Plow and horse collar was invented. Trade increased as well. Markets were formed and people left the farm.

Cont… Blacksmiths, artisans and weavers started appearing. As a result an urban class of people with money arose in Europe. This growth of trade led to the decline of feudalism. Serfs and peasants left their manors for towns and it weakened the manor system.