1. Chapter 13: Middle Ages in Europe
Middle Ages in 3 ½ Minutes
The Middle Ages – def. medieval period in Europe lasting from 500 – 1500 C.E.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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