1. Middle Ages in Europe

3. The Middle Ages – def. medieval period in Europe lasting from 500 – 1300 A.D.
Taking place as a result of the gradual decline of the Roman Empire
Primary unifying force in Western Europe = Roman Catholic Church (THE church)

4. 1) the Pope anointed Holy Roman Emperors
The Middle Ages
How?
1) the Pope anointed Holy Roman Emperors
2) missionaries carried Christianity to Germanic Tribes
3) Church served social, political and religious needs of the people

6. Foundation of Early Medieval Society:
1. Classical heritage of Rome – Roman culture still important, even though in decline – giving way to Germanic culture
2. Christian Beliefs – most of Western Europe, including more Germanic Tribes
3. Customs of Germanic Tribes – ex: oral tradition of song and language, no written language, violence and warfare

7. Changes in Western Europe:
1. Disruption of Trade – frequent invasions caused trade to break down, causing a decline in cities and a lack of money in Western Europe
2. Downfall of Cities – cities were abandoned, lack of leadership
3. Population Shifts – people left cities for rural areas

8. Changes in Western Europe:
4. Decline of Learning – invaders couldn’t read or write, Roman culture in decline, knowledge of Greek nearly disappeared, only literate people = monks/priests
5. Loss of a Common Language – different dialects of Latin gave rise to Romance languages

10. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages:
1. Roman authority declined, while church authority grew
2. Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements – monks were the few who could read and write = literate

13. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages:
3. Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes.
4. Clovis converted the Franks to Christianity

15. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Early Middle Ages:
5. Pope Leo III anointed Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 A.D.
6. Parish priests served religious and social needs of the people

17. The Rise of Feudalism: Background:
1. Invaders destroyed Roman ability to protect people of Western Europe
2. people, in response to this lack of protection, entered into feudal agreements with land-holding lords who promised them protection

18. The Rise of Feudalism: Fief – piece of land
Lord – landowner, granted land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service
Vassal – one who received land from a lord, pledged loyalty and military service
Serf – workers/peasants who were tied/bound to the land – worked to maintain the manor

19. The Rise of Feudalism: Medieval Manor – lord’s estate, houses and land
-had its own rigid class structure and self-sufficient economy

21. King
Nobles/
Church Officials
Knights
Serfs

22. Serfs and Peasants (90% of population)
The Rise of Feudalism – Political and Social Organization of Medieval Europe
King
Vassal (Lord)
Knights
Serfs and Peasants (90% of population)
Oath of loyalty/military support
Grant Fief (land)
Loyalty/military
Shelter/food
Labor, rent
Shelter/food
And protection

23. The Manor System – The Medieval Economic System
Manorialism
Self sufficient
Little reason to leave your manor.

25. The Manor System – The Medieval Economic System
Not a political unit (no voting), was a system of economic organization
No new ideas exchanged.
Technology slow to progress.
Little use of money. Wealth based on land.

26. Strict social hierarchy based on the feudal pyramid.
Political
Religious
Strict social hierarchy based on the feudal pyramid.
Social Status determined by birth
Lack of social Mobility
Code of Chivalry
Rise in the power of the Pope and Roman Catholic Church
Pope had power of excommunication
Feudalism – Kings and nobles exchange land for loyalty and protection.
Decentralized government
People followed religious Canon Law – Led by Pope

27. Decline in learning as population shifts to rural areas
Intellectual
Technological
Economic
Manorialism
Manor system – completely self-sufficient in that it had everything that was needed
Little use of money
Little to no trade
Pay 10% tithe to church
Decline in learning as population shifts to rural areas
Technology slow to progress as exchange of ideas declines.
Most people were illiterate
Priests and monks could read and write – wrote books, mostly religious
Most technology used for military or farming – Crossbow, armor, longbow, siege weapons, early guns, heavy plough, water and wind mills, mechanical clocks, stirrups, hourglass, glass, printing press