Pope Gregory the Great: “Where is the Senate? Where are the people? The bones are all dissolved, the flesh is consumed….The whole mass is boiled away... ( circa 600 A.D.)” Why would St. Gregory have written this about Europe at this time?

The Geography of Western Europe – Second smallest in land area located on the western end of Eurasia. Frontier land – forest, rich soil, ample access to waterways, mineral resources, many rivers and streams.

The Germanic Kingdoms – Germanic tribes were farmers and herders. No cities or written laws. Much of their culture was governed by unwritten customs. Warrior elected a king to lead them in war. These warriors swore allegiance to the king in return for certain privileges. Early form of Feudalism.

The Germanic Kingdoms – Strongest Germanic kingdom was the Franks. Under the leadership of Clovis, the Franks conquered much of the old Western Roman Empire. Clovis converted to Christianity and gained a powerful ally in the Church. Charles Martel defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours and stop Muslim expansion.

United France, Germany, and parts of Italy. Reunited most of the Old Roman Empire. Declared “ Emperor of the Romans ” by Pope Leo III after Charlemagne defeated rebellious Roman nobles. This revived the idea of a united Christian community. This also widened the split between the East and the West.

Worked closely with the Church to spread Christianity. Used powerful nobles known as Missi Domenici to control the provinces. At the capital, Charlemagne set up school and has Alcuin establish a curriculum which included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.

After his death in 814, his heirs battled for power. The Treaty of Verdun split the empire into three regions. Charlemagne extended Christian civilization, blended German, Roman, and Christian traditions. Europe was still under attack from Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings.

Feudalism – loosely organized system of gov’t/rule whereby land is divided in exchange for loyalty and service. Participants enter into a feudal contract (relationship of exchange, or mutual obligations) Roles in society are determined, almost like a caste system. Everyone had a ‘place.’ Knights (mounted warriors)– intense training. Development of castles. The Manor, the lord’s estate, was the heart of the medieval economy; it was self-sufficient.

Noblewomen – managed household Rights to inheritance were restricted. Some women such as Eleanor of Aquitaine gained influence and political power. Benefited from the code of behavior- chivalry. Peasants – Bound to the land - Majority of the population. Obligations to the higher vassal or lord. Received protection and land to farm. Life was harsh – long hours, short life span.

Medieval Society Political System – Feudalism Form of government based on landholding Alliances between lords and vassals Oaths of loyalty in exchange for land and military service Ranking of power and authority Code of Behavior – Chivalry Display courage and valor in combat Devotion to feudal lord and heavenly lord Respect toward women Belief System – The Church Unifying force of Christian faith Power over people’s everyday life Involved in political affairs Economic System – Manors Lord’s estate Set of rights and obligations between serfs and lords Self-sufficient community producing a variety of goods

‘It is our task to with the aid of divine goodness, to defend the holy church of Christ everywhere…” – Charlemagne Church- most powerful force in Europe during the Middle Ages. Church’s most important medieval achievement: Christianizing the diverse peoples of Western Europe. Most villages- parish priests were only contact people had w/ the idea of ‘Church’ Churches became social centers

Everyday Life & The Church Attend Mass – Administer Sacraments Establish schools Social center – Involved in ALL areas Guide people – values and morality All Christians pay taxes to the Church Payment of tithes God – men & women = Earth – men & women- unequal Anti-Semitism emerges- Christian persecution of Jews increased in 1000s

Power of the Church Papal Supremacy – (power struggle) High government positions Powerful secular force (worldly) Absolute power in religious matters Church has its own laws, courts, & punishment system:  Canon law  Excommunication  Interdict

Nuns and Monks Missionary work, preserved learning, established schools & hospitals, performed manual labor Benedictine Rule- 3 vows to regulate life:  Obedience  Poverty  Chastity Monasteries- key centers of health care, schooling

Reforms Church becomes rich and powerful Some clergy become corrupt Cluniac Reforms – similar to Benedictine Rule  No outside interference  Outlawed marriage for priests  Prohibited Simony (selling of Church offices)  Development of New Order  Franciscan Order  Dominican Order

 Feudalism  King  Lord  Knight  Peasant

High Middle Ages: Key aspects: changes seen in agriculture, trade, and towns 1. Agricultural Revolution: - took place in countryside due to improvements in the use of land and access to new technologies (inventions) 3-field system of crop rotation more efficient since less land was left unused (fallow)

THE 3 FIELD SYSTEM Gray - Woodlands; the building blocks of the manor. Green - The 3 Fields; crops were rotated each season on land owned by the Lord and worked by the serfs. Purple - The Lord's house, land and pond. Burnt Orange - The villager's homes. Yellow - Small plots of land serfs could work themselves for their own benefit. Blue - the stream used by all.

THE PLOUGH (PLOW) In the Middle Ages, 3 inventions paved the way for an agricultural revolution…..

HORSE HARNESS

WINDMILL

What do these inventions mean?  Increased food production  Increased population  Less people needed to farm

High Middle Ages: Trade/Commercial Revolution: Commerce expanded in response to the growing population and growing agricultural (agrarian) economy. Trade routes led to trade fairs

High Middle Ages: Rise of towns & cities: Towns eventually grew into cities Merchants would ask kings for charters to protect their interests (written document setting out the rights/privileges of a town)

High Middle Ages: Rise of towns and cities changed the way business was done (transacted). Keep in mind that….

MANORIALISM RULED Think: AGRARIAN (agricultural) TRADITIONAL ECONOMY

AGRARIAN MANORIALISM A SELF-SUFFICIENT ECONOMY BASED ON AGRICULTURE

THE MANOR SYSTEM ANYTHING NOT PRODUCED ON LORD’S MANOR COULD BE BARTERED. MONEY WAS RARELY IN USE AFTER ROME’S EMPIRE COLLAPSED.

High Middle Ages: As trade increased, the medieval economy changed in key ways Merchants needed $ to buy goods. Money was borrowed from moneylenders. Practice of money being lent for interest increased (usury) Nobles and clergy did not approve of usury, viewing it as sinful.

High Middle Ages: THINK: As business was changing, how might merchants protect themselves financially?....

High Middle Ages: Partnerships- merchants joined together w/ others, pooled their $/capital.

Guild – organization of individuals in same business or occupation working together to improve economic and social conditions  Apprentice   journeyman .  Master

 Placed limitations on membership  Made rules, established standards to protect quality of goods

High Middle Ages: Entrance into guilds- apprenticeships----guild master----journeymen (salaried members) Women able to become guild members

High Middle Ages: Social Changes- Commercial/Economic Revolution- Shift from manorialism and barter- based economy Use of $ undermined (weakened) serfdom as feudal lords wanted $ to buy goods (receiving food from peasants didn’t meet this need!)

Life in Medieval Towns & Cities: surrounded by high walls By 1000, a new social class appeared- middle class which stood btwn nobles and peasants Great social differences became obvious Loud and very unsanitary Disease was rampant (widespread) by 14 th century- more on Black Death later…..

Black Death  Also known as the Bubonic Plague- People thought the apocalypse was coming  People were scared that God was punishing them

Key Effects of High Middles Ages- Time of economic revival & great social change Feudalism was greatly undermined/weakened New ideas & $ moved throughout all social classes as commerce and trade routes expanded- cultural diffusion