1. Feudalism and The Crusades

2. Fall of the Western Roman Empire

3. Fall of the Roman Empire
164 – Antonian Plague spreads through Rome
180 – End of Pax Romana
300 – Diocletian divides the Empire
313 – Constantine legalizes Christianity: Edict of Milan
410 – Visigoths sack Rome
455 – Vandals sack Rome
476 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire (East survives – Byzantine Empire)

4. Germanic Successor States
Decentralized Society
German chieftains replace Roman rule
Germanic tradition replaced Roman law
Peasants turn to local lords for safety – lords build “manors”

5. Feudalism
Feudalism - a social system in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and land grants (fiefs) in return.

6. Rome makes a “comeback”
Although Rome has fallen, the Catholic Church stayed an important part of society
Looked for a king to serve as protector for the church
The Pope turns to Clovis, a converted Christian, and King of the Franks

7. The Franks – a timeline Clovis I (466-511) Charles Martel (688-741)
United the Franks
Converted to Christianity
Charles Martel ( )
Defeated the Muslims at Battle of Tours
Charlemagne ( )
Centralized authority
Regains Italy and saves the Pope from danger
Pope crowns him Holy Roman Emperor
Battle of Tours, 732

8. The Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire Byzantine Empire
Islamic Empire

9. But… Trouble for Christian Europe
Holy Roman Empire
Byzantine Empire
Islamic Empire

10. Problems – The “Turks” Eastern Empire very close to Islamic world
Seljuk Turks try to take Byzantium (semi-successful)
Take the “Holy lands,” but not Constantinople
Leads to the Crusades
The two empires come together to fight the Muslims and take back Jerusalem

11. The Crusades
The Crusades – a series of “holy wars” that lasted hundreds of years
The Muslim Turks had taken control of Jerusalem
Pope Urban II calls upon all Christians in Europe to take back the holy land from the Muslims
Pope declares that all who join will be forgiven of their sins
Rulers and nobles from all different kingdoms come together to fight for a common cause

12. Effects of the Crusades
Although the Christians did regain temporary control of Jerusalem, The Turks proved to be too much for the European crusaders
However, there were other effects:
Effects of the Crusades
Spread of new ideas and technology
Increased trade:
And a new Middle Class of Merchants
Bad blood between Christians, Jews, and Muslims