What were the Middle Ages?

PeriodsPeriods Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000 High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250 Late Middle Ages:

Rome Falls In 476AD, invaders attacked the city of Rome and ended more than 800 years of glory for the “eternal city.” Historians mark the fall of Rome as the end of ancient history. The next 1000 years were called the Middle Ages.In 476AD, invaders attacked the city of Rome and ended more than 800 years of glory for the “eternal city.” Historians mark the fall of Rome as the end of ancient history. The next 1000 years were called the Middle Ages. The beginning of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages because Rome had fallen and life in Europe was hard.The beginning of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages because Rome had fallen and life in Europe was hard. Very few could read and write, and no one expected conditions to improve. The only hope for most was their belief in Christianity, and the hope that life in heaven would be better than life on earth.Very few could read and write, and no one expected conditions to improve. The only hope for most was their belief in Christianity, and the hope that life in heaven would be better than life on earth.

Europe in the 500s

The Medieval Catholic Church  filled the need for power left from the collapse of the classical world.  monasticism:  St. Benedict – Benedictine Rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  provided schools for the children of the upper class.  inns, hospitals, refuge in times of war.  libraries to copy books called illuminate manuscripts.  monks  missionaries to the barbarians. [St. Patrick, St. Boniface]

A Medieval Monastery: The Scriptorium

Illuminated Manuscripts

Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Charlemagne’s Empire

Pope Crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor: Dec. 25, 800

Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses: Treaty of Verdun, 843

FeudalismFeudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

A Medieval Castle

Parts of a Medieval Castle

The Road to Knighthood KNIGHT SQUIRE PAGE

Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior

Code of Chivalry Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions. Thou shalt defend the Church.Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy. Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

The Medieval Manor You can do it all by yourself!!

Life on the Medieval Manor Serfs at work

Plague/Black Death: Took out 54 millionTook out 54 million 1/3 of population wiped out1/3 of population wiped out Defining event(s) of the Middle AgesDefining event(s) of the Middle Ages Spread by fleas which lived on ratsSpread by fleas which lived on rats A lack of cleanliness added to their vulnerability: crowded with poor sanitation; ate stale or diseased meat; primitive medicine (people were often advised to not bathe b/c open skin pores might let in the disease).A lack of cleanliness added to their vulnerability: crowded with poor sanitation; ate stale or diseased meat; primitive medicine (people were often advised to not bathe b/c open skin pores might let in the disease). Highly contagious disease nodules would burst around the area of the flea bite.Highly contagious disease nodules would burst around the area of the flea bite. In 1347, Italian traders returned from the Black Sea from China. Many of the sailors were already dying of the plague, and within days the disease had spread from the port cities to the surrounding countryside. The disease spread as far as England within a year.

William the Conqueror: Battle of Hastings, 1066 (Bayeaux Tapestry)

Evolution of England’s Political System  Henry I:  William’s son.  set up a court system.  Exchequer  dept. of royal finances.  Henry II:  established the principle of common law throughout the kingdom.  grand jury.  trial by jury.

Evolution of England’s Political System  Henry I:  William’s son.  set up a court system.  Exchequer  dept. of royal finances.  Henry II:  established the principle of common law throughout the kingdom.  grand jury.  trial by jury.

Magna Carta, 1215  King John I   Runnymeade  “Great Charter”  monarchs were not above the law.  kings had to consult a council of advisors.  kings could not tax arbitrarily.

The Beginnings of the British Parliament  Great Council:  middle class merchants, townspeople [burgesses in Eng., bourgeoisie in Fr., burghers in Ger.] were added at the end of the 13c.  eventually called Parliament.  by 1400, two chambers evolved: o House of Lords  nobles & clergy. o House of Commons  knights and burgesses.

The Rise of European Monarchies: France

Gothic Architectural Style e Pointed arches. e High, narrow vaults. e Thinner walls. e Flying buttresses. e Elaborate, ornate, airier interiors. e Stained-glass windows. “Flying” Buttresses

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Crusade

Setting Out on Crusade

Christian Crusades: East and West

Medieval Universities

Oxford University

Late Medieval Town Dwellings

Medieval Trade

Medieval Guilds Guild Hall   Commercial Monopoly:  C ontrolled membership apprentice  journeyman  master craftsman  Controlled quality of the product [masterpiece].  Controlled prices

Medieval Guilds: A Goldsmith’s Shop

Crest of a Cooper’s Guild