1. The Beginning of the Middle Ages
Focus Question: What was life like in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire?
Do-Now: Grab both handouts!!!! Read the excerpt on the Middle Ages and answer the questions that follow.
Homework: None

2. The Middle Ages
Why are the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages?
How were Europeans united during the Middle Ages? What allowed this organization to become so powerful?
Describe the Middle Ages.

3. The Royal House of Franks
The Franks were the most successful and powerful Germanic kingdom after the fall of the Roman Empire.
The Carolingians took over the monarchy which was based in Northern France, Belgium, and Germany.
Charles Martel, sometimes referred to as “Charles the Hammer” was responsible defeated the Muslims in Spain. The Byzantine Empire also defeated the Muslims.
His son, Pepin the Short, began to strengthen the empire.
Stop and Jot: How would this effect religion in Europe?

4. The Carolingians
800 C.E.: After the death of Pepin the Short, his son, Charlemagne, built upon the strength of the empire in France and Germany.
He restored church-based education and spread Christianity as he conquered new lands.
Charlemagne was crowned “Roman Emperor” by Pope Leo III after he crushed a mob that attacked the pope. This event signaled the joining of Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire. All of the emperors following Charlemagne called themselves “Holy Roman Emperors”.
Charlemagne is also referred to as Charles the Great.

5. Charlemagne the Great
Charlemagne strengthened his royal power by having nobles govern counties. Royal agents, called counts, were sent out to make sure that the nobles governed their counties justly.
Charlemagne regularly visited every part of his kingdom. He also kept a close watch on the management of his huge estates which were the source of Carolingian wealth and power.
He encouraged learning by opening a palace school. He surrounded himself with English, German, Italian, and Spanish scholars.
He also ordered monasteries to open schools to train future monks and priests.

6. Aachen Cathedral
This was Charlemagne’s personal cathedral in Germany. It was built in 10 years. He was buried here and it was been the site for the coronation of many German kings throughout history. It was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in

8. Feudalism Emerges in Europe
After Charlemagne died, there were a series of weak and ineffective rulers. They all fought for control of the empire and divided it into three kingdoms under the Treaty of Verdun.
Historians have added titles of “the fat” and “the bald” to the emperors names to signify their ineffectiveness.
As a result, Carolingian kings lost power and central authority broke down. The lack of strong rulers led to a new system of governing and landholding: feudalism.
Stop and Jot: Make a connection to European Feudalism.

9. The Invasions of Europe
Describe the historical context of feudalism in Europe.

10. Closing Discussion
Would you consider the Carolingian Empire “the dark ages”? Explain.
What was life like in Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire?
Why did Europe resort to feudalism?

11. Life in Feudal Europe Part I: With your group, complete the questions
Describe the political and economic aspects of manorialism. In addition, describe any new achievements for the time period
Describe the church’s role in feudal society.
Part II: Each person will be assigned a class in the feudal system. It is your job to teach your group about your specific social class. Take notes on the main idea with you group on the back of this sheet and then complete the questions and pyramid below together with the terms listed below. Some parts of the pyramid will have multiple terms.

14. Kings paid nobles with land called fiefs
Kings paid nobles with land called fiefs. The amount of land owned determined a person’s wealth.
In return, the lords promised a fight for the king. The lords were the kings’ vassals- people who owed service to another person.
Lords hired knights to fight for them by offering them a piece of land.
Knights became vassals to the lords and owed the lords military service.
In return the serfs were tied to the land. They paid tribute in terms of labor, crops, and some cases, coins. Serfs also paid tithes to the Church.
Serfs lived on the manor and were provided the protection of lord and knights, and the religious services of the Church.

15. EUROPEAN FEUDALISM
A political and social system based on the exchange of land, loyalty and services. Feudalism also developed in Japan (End of Heian Period).

16. Kings were too weak to keep out invasions
Causes
Kings were too weak to keep out invasions
Cities became too dangerous to live in. People left cities and towns and entered the countryside for protection and survival

17. Life in Feudal Europe
How did one's social position affect life during the Middle Ages?
How well did feudalism establish order in Europe in the Middle Ages?
What was necessary among all of the social classes to ensure feudalism?
Complete the pyramid on the front of the paper.

18. Effects Everyone had a well-defined place in society
(Each manor was self-sufficient)
Feudalism and Manorialism were based on
mutual responsibility
Roman Catholic Church was the unifying force