The Middle Ages  Europe carved up by Germanic Tribes, Franks  Charlemagne united Europe  Wanted “Second Rome”, extended Christianity  Feudalism – system of rule among lords and vassals  Lord gave vassal a fief thru feudal contract  Vassal got land and protection, Lord got food  Knights – began at 7, protect castles  Castles were self-sufficient  Peasants poor, hard life, 35

The Medieval Church  Church was the center of towns and lives  Cannon Law – churches laws  Monastery – school, copied manuscripts, hospital  Papal Supremacy – Pope had more power than kings  Persecuted Jews – Anti-Semitism

Medieval Economy  Iron plows, horse harnesses – agriculture  3 Field system – corn, wheat, fallow = more food  New trade routes – India and China  Barter rather than money  Guilds – group of same kind of artisans  Set prices, recipes, hours  Apprentice, Journeyman, Master

High Middle Ages  Royal families ruled England and France  Kings conflicted with church over power  Magna Carta – nobles forced King John to sign  King is not exempt from laws  Parliament established

The Crusades  “God wills it”  200 years  Take back Jerusalem from Muslims  Rape, pillage, kill along way – got rich  Economic expansion and grew churches power

Into the Darkness  The Black Death  Rats, fleas spread Bubonic Plague  Spread thru Europe via trade  25 million people died  No workers, blamed Jews & witches, inflation – 100 years  Church Upheaval  Popes lived rich lives  Church accused of corruption  Hundred Years’ War  England vs. France in 1337 to 1453  Joan of Arc and Longbow