Transforming the Roman World 9-1

New Germanic Kingdoms 476 CE – fall of Western Roman Empire Germanic states set up around Europe: Spain – Visigoths Italy – Ostrogoths Britain – Anglo-Saxons France/Germany – Franks (longest lasting)

Germanic Society Importance of family Germanic law – handled personally (instead of through Roman system) Crimes settled by blood feuds and savage acts of revenge Wergild – “money for a man” Ordeal to determine guilt – physical test

Church Organization Pope (bishop of Rome) Archbishop Bishop Priest

Monks and their Mission Pope Gregory I – uses the monastic movement to convert non-Christians Saint Benedict - regulates monasteries (Benedictine Rule) Day of prayer and manual labor 7 daily gatherings for group prayer and chanting of Psalms Strict rule by an abbot (“father”)

The Carolingian Empire 600s-700s – slow decline of the Frankish Kingdom – eventually taken over by one of the king’s officers who establishes hereditary rule, which passes to his son: Charlemagne (Charles the Great) 768-814: rule of Charlemagne Expanded Frankish territory Vast administration system (counts, missi diminici) Intellectual renewal (Carolingian Renaissance)

Charlemagne the Man

Charlemagne the Conqueror

Charlemagne the Administrator

Charlemagne the Patron of Learning

Charlemagne, Emperor of Rome 800 CE - Germanic King crowed Emperor of Rome by the Pope Symbolic coming together of different European heritages

Feudalism 9-2

End of the Carolingian Empire Death of Charlemagne in 814 – 30 years later the Carolingian Empire was divided amongst his grandsons into three major sections: West Frankish lands Eastern Frankish lands Middle Kingdom Local nobles gained power Many areas were invaded

The Invaders

Feudalism Became increasingly difficult to defend their subjects against invaders as the Carolingian Empire fell apart People turned to local aristocrats, nobles, for protection > new political and social system called feudalism

Feudal Society Vassal: man who served a lord in a military capacity (Germanic tradition) – received land (fief) in return for serving in a lord’s army Knight: heavily armored cavalry – social prestige

The Feudal Contract System of honor and chivalry made up of unwritten rules Obligations of vassal: Military service (approx. 40 days/year) Give advice in court when summoned Financial payments for lord’s son’s knighting, daughter’s wedding, or ransom payment Obligations of lord: Grant land Protection Take vassal’s side in court of law

Nobility of the Middle Ages Nobility: kings, dukes, counts, barons, bishops and archbishops = aristocracy Great lords and knights were included as well Social divisions within the aristocracy based on wealth and landholdings

Tournaments Contests where knights could show off fighting skills

Chivalry Code of ethics that knights were supposed to uphold Treat captives as honored guests Knights fight for glory, not material reward

Aristocratic Women Could hold property (most controlled by men) Men often away at war – women in charge of the estate Manage household Take care of financial accounts Oversaw food supply Expected to be subservient to husbands Exception: Eleanor of Aquitaine Heiress – married to King Louis VII of France – annulled Married King Henry II of England – created her own court – two of her sons (Richard and John) became kings of England