Middle Ages

Vocabulary Exams: Ch. 7 1st exam sect. 1-2: 10/1; 2nd exam sect Ch. 7, sect. 1 Ch. 7, sect. 2 Ch. 7, sect. 3 Ch. 7, sect. 4 1. Clovis 2. medieval 3. Franks 4. Charles Martel 5. battle of Tours 6. Charlemagne 7. Magyars 8. Vikings 9. feudalism 10. vassal 11. feudal contract 12. fief 13. knight 14. tournament 15. chivalry 16. troubadour 17. manor 18. serf 1. sacrament 2. Benedictine Rule 3. secular 4. papal supremacy 5. canon law 6. excommunication 7. interdict 8. friar 9. St. Francis of Assisi 10. charter 11. capital 12. partnership 13. tenant farmer 14. middle class 15. guild 16. apprentice 17. journeyman

Read “Feudal Europe’s Religious Influences” Writing Assignment Read “Feudal Europe’s Religious Influences” Write: complete the questions on the back of the handout

“The Middle Ages” Create a Family Crest for yourself Mother’s Family Father’s Family YOU Mother’s Family Father’s Family Motto

Warm Up: What happened to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? In the East, the Byzantine Empire became a center for trade & Greco-Roman culture

Also known as the “Dark Ages” or “Medieval” era The Middle Ages In the West, Europe grew weak & fell into the Middle Ages from 500 to 1300 Also known as the “Dark Ages” or “Medieval” era

Europe After the Fall of Rome When barbarian kingdoms conquered Rome, Europe was plagued by constant warfare Warfare disrupted trade, destroyed Europe’s cities, & forced people to rural areas Learning declined; Few people could read or write Greco-Roman culture was forgotten • Disruption of Trade Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea. Their businesses collapsed. The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s cities as economic centers. Money became scarce. • Downfall of Cities With the fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration. • Population Shifts As Roman centers of trade and government collapsed, nobles retreated to the rural areas. Roman cities were left without strong leadership. Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, where they grew their own food. The population of western Europe became mostly rural. The Decline of Learning The Germanic invaders who stormed Rome could not read or write. Among Romans themselves, the level of learning sank sharply as more and more families left for rural areas. Few people except priests and other church officials were literate. Knowledge of Greek, long important in Roman culture, was almost lost. Few people could read Greek works of literature, science, and philosophy. The Germanic tribes, though, had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends. But they had no written language. Loss of a Common Language As German-speaking peoples mixed with the Roman population, Latin changed. While it was still an official language, it was no longer understood. Different dialects developed as new words and phrases became part of everyday speech. By the 800s, French, Spanish, and other Roman-based languages had evolved from Latin. The development of various languages mirrored the continued breakup of a once-unified empire. Europe lost a common language; Latin mixed with local languages to form Spanish, French, Italian

Germanic Tribes in the Middle Ages Without the unity of the Roman Empire, Europe became divided into a series of Germanic kingdoms Germanic people lived in small communities led by chiefs & his loyal warriors Family ties & loyalty were more important than citizenship The Concept of Government Changes Along with shifting boundaries, the entire concept of government changed. Loyalty to public government and written law had unified Roman society. Family ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship in a public state, held Germanic society together. Unlike Romans, Germanic peoples lived in small communities that were governed by unwritten rules and traditions. Every Germanic chief led a band of warriors who had pledged their loyalty to him. In peacetime, these followers lived in their lord’s hall. He gave them food, weapons, and treasure. In battle, warriors fought to the death at their lord’s side. They considered it a disgrace to outlive him. But Germanic warriors felt no obligation to obey a king they did not even know. Nor would they obey an official sent to collect taxes or administer justice in the name of an emperor they had never met. The Germanic stress on personal ties made it impossible to establish orderly government for large territories.

The Spread of Christianity During the early Middle Ages, the Germanic kingdoms were slowly converted to Christianity The Catholic Pope became involved in secular (non-religious) issues like road repair, aiding the poor, & helping Christian kings expand their power

The Spread of Christianity The Franks were the largest & most powerful of the Germanic kingdoms in the early Middle Ages Frankish kings allied with the Catholic Church & expanded their power In 771, Charlemagne (“Charles the Great”) became king of the Franks

Charlemagne & the Frankish Empire Charlemagne was the greatest Medieval king because he did something no other king was able to do…create an organized empire – The Holy Roman Empire (First Reich) He spread Christianity – Missi Dominici He created schools to train future priests Charlemagne expanded the Frankish empire He valued learning & built schools in his empire

Charlemagne & The Holy Roman Empire After Charlemagne’s death in 814, his Frankish Empire was divided & lost power… …This was the last opportunity to provide unity in medieval Europe

From 800 to 1000, a 2nd major wave of invasions struck Europe led by Vikings, Muslims &Magyars Text These invasions caused widespread fear & suffering Kings could not defend against invasion People stopped looking to kings for protection The invasions by Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims caused widespread disorder and suffering. Most western Europeans lived in constant danger. Kings could not effectively defend their lands from invasion. As a result, people no longer looked to a central ruler for security. Instead, many turned to local rulers who had their own armies. Any leader who could fight the invaders gained followers and political strength.

Feudalism Feudalism began in Europe as a way to offer protection Feudalism is based on land & loyalty Land-owning lords offer land (called a fief) to knights in exchange for their loyalty & promise to protect the lord’s land Feudalism came to England with Norman Invasion in 1066 Bayeaux Tapestry

Some peasants were serfs & could not leave the lord’s estate Feudal Structure Knights were specially trained soldiers who protected the lords & peasants – vassals took an oath of fealty (loyalty) Some peasants were serfs & could not leave the lord’s estate Kings had land but very little power Lords (also called Nobles) were the upper-class landowners; they had inherited titles (“Duke,” “Earl,” “Sir”)

Lords built castles to protect their territory from outside invasions

The Manorial System During the Middle Ages, the manorial system was the way in which people survived The lord’s land was called a manor The lord provided peasants with housing, farmland, & protection In exchange, peasants repaid the lord by working his land & providing a portion of the food they produced

Peasant life was hard: They paid taxes to use the lord’s mill, had to get permission to get married, & life expectancy was about 35 years old Manors were self-sufficient communities; Everything that was needed was produced on the manor

The Crusades

Essential Question: What were the causes & effects of the Crusades? Warm-Up Question: What is feudalism? What is the manorial system?

Western Europe in the Middle Ages After the fall of Rome, Western Europe had constant warfare Medieval kingdoms lacked trade, common language, & cultural diffusion • Disruption of Trade Merchants faced invasions from both land and sea. Their businesses collapsed. The breakdown of trade destroyed Europe’s cities as economic centers. Money became scarce. • Downfall of Cities With the fall of the Roman Empire, cities were abandoned as centers of administration. • Population Shifts As Roman centers of trade and government collapsed, nobles retreated to the rural areas. Roman cities were left without strong leadership. Other city dwellers also fled to the countryside, where they grew their own food. The population of western Europe became mostly rural. The Decline of Learning The Germanic invaders who stormed Rome could not read or write. Among Romans themselves, the level of learning sank sharply as more and more families left for rural areas. Few people except priests and other church officials were literate. Knowledge of Greek, long important in Roman culture, was almost lost. Few people could read Greek works of literature, science, and philosophy. The Germanic tribes, though, had a rich oral tradition of songs and legends. But they had no written language. Loss of a Common Language As German-speaking peoples mixed with the Roman population, Latin changed. While it was still an official language, it was no longer understood. Different dialects developed as new words and phrases became part of everyday speech. By the 800s, French, Spanish, and other Roman-based languages had evolved from Latin. The development of various languages mirrored the continued breakup of a once-unified empire.

Western Europe in the Middle Ages Because the Middle Ages were so dangerous, people used a variety of strategies to survive

Western Europe in the Middle Ages Feudalism offered protection when land-owning lords gave fiefs to knights who swore to protect the manor Castles were built to protect the lord & his peasants

Western Europe in the Middle Ages Medieval Europeans lived on self-sufficient manors; The manorial system allowed peasants to farm the lord’s land in exchange for part of the food harvested

Besides feudalism & the manorial system, what else was important in the Middle Ages?

The Role of the Medieval Church The Structure of the Church Like the system of feudalism, the Church had its own organization. Power was based on status. Church structure consisted of different ranks of clergy, or religious officials. The pope in Rome headed the Church. All clergy, including bishops and priests, fell under his authority. Bishops supervised priests, the lowest ranking members of the clergy. Bishops also settled disputes over Church teachings and practices. For most people, local priests served as the main contact with the Church. Religion as a Unifying Force Feudalism and the manor system created divisions among people. But the shared beliefs in the teachings of the Church bonded people together. The church was a stable force during an era of constant warfare and political turmoil. It provided Christians with a sense of security and of belonging to a religious community. In the Middle Ages, religion occupied center stage. Medieval Christians’ everyday lives were harsh. Still, they could all follow the same path to salvation—everlasting life in heaven. Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation. For example, through the sacrament of baptism, people became part of the Christian community. At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people. It served as a religious and social center. People worshiped together at the church. They also met with other villagers. Religious holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, were occasions for festive celebrations. The Law of the Church The Church’s authority was both religious and political. It provided a unifying set of spiritual beliefs and rituals. The Church also created a system of justice to guide people’s conduct. All medieval Christians, kings and peasants alike, were subject to canon law, or Church law, in matters such as marriage and religious practices. The Church also established courts to try people accused of violating canon law. Two of the harshest punishments that offenders faced were excommunication and interdict. Popes used the threat of excommunication, or banishment from the Church, to wield power over political rulers. For example, a disobedient king’s quarrel with a pope might result in excommunication. This meant the king would be denied salvation. Excommunication also freed all the king’s vassals from their duties to him. If an excommunicated king continued to disobey the pope, the pope, in turn, could use an even more frightening weapon, the interdict. Under an interdict, many sacraments and religious services could not be performed in the king’s lands. As Christians, the king’s subjects believed that without such sacraments they might be doomed to hell. In the 11th century, excommunication and the possible threat of an interdict would force a German emperor to submit to the pope’s commands. Feudalism & the manor system divided people, but the shared belief in Christianity unified medieval people

The Role of the Medieval Church Roman Catholicism was the dominant religion in Western Europe during the Middle Ages: Without a common government to hold everyone together, the Catholic Church filled an important role in peoples’ lives The Catholic Pope became the strongest political leader in Western Europe

The Role of the Medieval Church The Catholic Church conducted spiritual rituals (called sacraments) & created a system of rules called Canon Law that all Christians had to follow The Structure of the Church Like the system of feudalism, the Church had its own organization. Power was based on status. Church structure consisted of different ranks of clergy, or religious officials. The pope in Rome headed the Church. All clergy, including bishops and priests, fell under his authority. Bishops supervised priests, the lowest ranking members of the clergy. Bishops also settled disputes over Church teachings and practices. For most people, local priests served as the main contact with the Church. Religion as a Unifying Force Feudalism and the manor system created divisions among people. But the shared beliefs in the teachings of the Church bonded people together. The church was a stable force during an era of constant warfare and political turmoil. It provided Christians with a sense of security and of belonging to a religious community. In the Middle Ages, religion occupied center stage. Medieval Christians’ everyday lives were harsh. Still, they could all follow the same path to salvation—everlasting life in heaven. Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation. For example, through the sacrament of baptism, people became part of the Christian community. At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people. It served as a religious and social center. People worshiped together at the church. They also met with other villagers. Religious holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, were occasions for festive celebrations. The Law of the Church The Church’s authority was both religious and political. It provided a unifying set of spiritual beliefs and rituals. The Church also created a system of justice to guide people’s conduct. All medieval Christians, kings and peasants alike, were subject to canon law, or Church law, in matters such as marriage and religious practices. The Church also established courts to try people accused of violating canon law. Two of the harshest punishments that offenders faced were excommunication and interdict. Popes used the threat of excommunication, or banishment from the Church, to wield power over political rulers. For example, a disobedient king’s quarrel with a pope might result in excommunication. This meant the king would be denied salvation. Excommunication also freed all the king’s vassals from their duties to him. If an excommunicated king continued to disobey the pope, the pope, in turn, could use an even more frightening weapon, the interdict. Under an interdict, many sacraments and religious services could not be performed in the king’s lands. As Christians, the king’s subjects believed that without such sacraments they might be doomed to hell. In the 11th century, excommunication and the possible threat of an interdict would force a German emperor to submit to the pope’s commands. Kings or lords who violated Canon Law could face interdiction (ban on religious services in a king’s lands) Christians who violated Canon Law could be excommunicated (banished from the church)

After a disagreement with king Henry IV, Pope Gregory VII issued an interdict; Henry was so upset he begged for 3 days for the Pope to forgive him

The Role of the Medieval Church Each territory in medieval Europe had a church which provided order on the manor Priests controlled peoples’ access to heaven by delivering the sacraments & absolving sins Peasants’ lives were hard, but the hope of a salvation in heaven kept them loyal & obedient the Church Medieval Christians’ everyday lives were harsh. Still, they could all follow the same path to salvation—everlasting life in heaven. Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation. For example, through the sacrament of baptism, people became part of the Christian community. At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people. It served as a religious and social center. People worshiped together at the church. They also met with other villagers. Religious holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, were occasions for festive celebrations. Christians paid a tax to the church called a tithe Local priests were the main contact most people had with the Catholic Church

The Role of the Medieval Church Medieval Christianity was so important that small churches were built on manors, but large cathedrals were built in cities Early medieval cathedrals were built with Romanesque architecture

But in the late medieval period, Gothic architecture was introduced Tall spires & pointed arches directed the eye towards heaven Flying buttresses allowed for fewer columns & more open space inside

Two Christian Thinkers St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica –provided a summary of Christian beliefs Showed how the writings of Greek philosophers were compatible with Christian teachings We should trust reason as well as faith Believed in “natural” or “universal laws” Beginning of civil disobedience St. Augustine Wrote City of God No earthly city can last forever Only the City of God in Heaven is eternal Because our understanding is limited, we must put our faith in God

Why did Christians go to Jerusalem during the Middle Ages?

In 1095, the Islamic Empire invaded & took the holy city of Jerusalem The Crusades Pope Urban II issued a call to Christians for a Crusade (a holy war) to regain control of the Holy Land In 1095, the Islamic Empire invaded & took the holy city of Jerusalem Over the next 300 years, Christians fought Muslim armies in 9 different Crusades

Why did Christians go on the Crusades? Merchants wanted access to trade routes Others who participated in the Crusades were younger sons who, unlike eldest sons, did not stand to inherit their father’s property. They were looking for land and a position in society, or for adventure. In the later Crusades, merchants profited by making cash loans to finance the journey. They also leased their ships for a hefty fee to transport armies over the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the merchants of Pisa, Genoa, and Venice hoped to win control of key trade routes to India, Southeast Asia, and China from Muslim traders. The Pope wanted to unite Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox Christians & regain holy lands from Muslims Knights wanted to support the Church; Many hoped to gain land & wealth

Christian soldiers took back Jerusalem during the First Crusade The Crusades Christian soldiers took back Jerusalem during the First Crusade But, Muslims took back Jerusalem & kept it during the Second & Third Crusades More Crusades were fought, but Christians never regained the Holy Lands

Effects of the Crusades The Crusades brought cultural diffusion & introduced new ideas into Western Europe Increased desires for luxury goods like silk, cotton, sugar, & spices Introduced technologies like compass, astrolabe, ship designs, & gunpowder Introduced ideas like Arabic numbers, chemistry, algebra, telescope

During the Middle Ages, only priests could read & write Greek ideas After the Crusades, learning increased & more people were educated Ideas about the Bible Roman ideas Chinese ideas Islamic ideas

High Middle Ages—Crusades After the Crusades, people wanted more luxury goods & began to trade Trade led to the growth of cities Medieval fairs brought iron & salt to the feudal manors; this was a very rare thing

The Black Death 1347 - 1351

Bring out your dead!

In 1347, a trade ship arrived in Italy carrying plague-infested rats One reason for the decline of the manorial system was the plague, known as the Black Death In 1347, a trade ship arrived in Italy carrying plague-infested rats The plague swept quickly throughout Europe along trade routes

The Black Death

Attempted “cures” for the plague Bathing in urine Isolation Leaches Prayer Placing dead animals in the home Pomanders

The plague killed 25 million people in 5 years The plague caused a labor shortage; those that survived could demand higher wages & more rights 53

Conclusions The role of religion in the Middle Ages: The Roman Catholic Church played an important role in the lives of Europeans both before & after the Middle Ages The Crusades failed to secure Jerusalem from the Islamic Empire, but these holy wars increased cultural diffusion & helped bring an end to the Middle Ages