1. The Early Middle-Ages
Foundations of Medieval Society and the Influence of the Catholic Church

2. Secular
Not connected to religion; the absence of religion

3. Monastery
A community or house occupied by religious figures (examples: monks, nuns, priests, etc.)

4. Western Europe During the Middle-Ages
Fall of Western Roman Empire
Conquered by Germanic tribes in 476 CE
Roman government and military collapsed
Power fell to German warlords
Medieval Europe
‘Medieval’ = middle ages (ca CE (AD)
Combined classical Roman culture with German culture and Christian religion

5. Influence of the Catholic Church during the Early Middle-Ages
During the Middle-Ages secular authority declined and the power of the Church grew
Catholic monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements
Missionaries spread Christianity and the Latin alphabet to Germania
The Pope anointed Charlemagne Emperor in 800 CE (AD)
Parish priests served the religious and social needs of the people

6. The Early Middle-Ages
The Franks

7. The Franks The Franks Clovis Germanic tribe
Settled in France and Germany in 5th century CE
Clovis
Ruler of the Franks
Powerful warlord
Converted to Christianity

8. The Franks Charles Martel Pepin the Short Ruler of Franks in 714 CE
Defeated Muslims in Battle of Tours in 732 CE
Preserved Christianity as the dominant religion of Europe
Pepin the Short
Crowned King of the Franks by the Pope in 752 CE
Helped the Pope fight rival Germanic tribes

9. The Franks Charlemagne ‘Frankish Emperor and son of Pepin the Short
Conquered Germany, France, Italy, and parts of Spain
First emperor and empire in Western Europe since Roman Empire
Crowned (anointed) Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in 800 CE (AD)
Churches, schools, and roads were built to unite the empire
The power of the Church was directly connected with politics

10. Franks Frankish Empire Later Holy Roman Empire Created by Charlemagne
Split up after death of Charlemagne
Weakened by foreign invasions
Power fell to local rulers and led to the rise of feudalism

11. The Early Middle-Ages
Feudal Europe

12. Feudalism
System of government in which a king and/or lord gives land in exchange for military service and support

13. Fiefs
Land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for their loyalty

14. Vassals
A lord who was granted land in exchange for service and loyalty to a greater lord

15. Serfs
A peasant bound to the lord’s land

16. Feudal Europe Feudalism Decentralized government = many local rulers
Rulers gave land to elite nobility in exchange for loyalty and military service
Nobility had to provide knights to fight for the ruler

17. Feudal Europe Feudal System
Fief = land given by a ruler for military service
Homage = oath of allegiance sworn by a vassal to a ruler in exchange for a fief
Lord = noble ruler
Vassal = noble who was given a fief by ruler
Knight = professional soldier who served a vassal
Chivalry = code of honor for knights

18. Feudal Europe: Nobility and Serfs
Medieval Life
Nobility
Lords and ladies
Lived in castles for protection
Lords had total authority over their fiefs
Made laws, taxes, and controlled the military
Serfs were peasants bound to the land for survival
This rigid social structure was based on feudal obligations

19. Feudal Europe: Knights
Knighthood
Page = 7 year-old boys who worked in a lord’s castle
Squire = 15 year-old boys who worked as personal assistants to a knight and trained for war
Knight = a squire who had been proven in battle
Followed code of chivalry

20. Feudal Europe: The Manorial System
Manorialism
Manor = lord’s house and surrounding lands
Peasants or serfs farmed land in exchange for protection
Gave portion of crops to lord
Manors were self- sufficient due to lack of trade

21. Manorial Class Structure

22. Manorial Class Structure
- Ruler
- Owned the majority of the land
King
- Large land owners, loyal to the king
- Small land owners, loyal to lords and the king
Lords
Vassals/Lesser Lords
- Warriors/military
- Provided the protection needed against invaders
Knights
Serfs
- Lowest class
- Worked the land in exchange for food and protection