1. Stages of Development of Western Europe During Middle Ages
Chapter 10 (1 of 4)

2. What were the Middle Ages?
Middle Ages = Term for western Europe during the Postclassical Era (A.P. World History’s 3rd time period)
Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome (476) and ended in the 1400s
The Middle Ages are also called the Dark Ages
If you see the term “the West” = western Europe (later includes America)

3. The Early Middle Ages (450-900)
First part of Middle Ages = western Europe had many problems and considered backwards
Italy was struggling after the fall of Rome and Spain was ruled by Muslims
Eventually, western Europe would recover and advance rapidly, but that wasn’t until the later part of the Middle Ages (after 900 C.E.)

4. Early Middle Ages = Western Europe Weak
Western Europe often invaded, making it hard to advance
Vikings = Scandinavian raiders, invaded Europe between 700s and 1000s

5. Literacy Low In Early Middle Ages
For the most part, only the clergy and people in monasteries were literate, and they helped to preserve classic learning

6. Manor System

7. Manor System
Manorialism = economic and political system b/t landlords and their peasants
Manor System (Feudalism) increased due to a lack of trade during early part of the Middle Ages

8. A Serf’s Life
Serfs = most peasants, who were farmers, lived on self-sufficient estates called manors, got protection from lord (noble) in return for part of their good
Serf life was difficult: agricultural technology low and production low
(had to spend many days repairing caste or working on lord’s land)
Though limited, some new technology did help
Not slaves (couldn’t be bought and sold) owned land as long as obligations met
Three-Field System = crop rotation leaving less land unused
Moldboard Plow = new plow that could get through heavy soil

9. The Church Pope Bishops Priests
After the fall of Rome, the church was the only strong form of organization (governments weak)
Pope sponsored missions (converted England, Germany, parts of eastern Europe) to Christianity

10. Clovis
German warrior who converted to Christianity in 496 and got control over the Franks (German tribe living where France is today)

11. The Role of Monasteries
Many monasteries built during the Middle Ages, and they played a big role in medieval society
Monasteries showed the spiritual focus of medieval society and promoted education and literacy

12. Charles “The Hammer” Martel
Ruler of the Franks (he was from the Carolingian family)
Defeated Muslims at Battle of Tours (732) stopping Muslim advance into western Europe

13. Looked like glory of Rome would be revived, but never occurred
Charlemagne
Later Carolingian ruler who established empire in France and Germany around 800, called Holy Roman Empire
Looked like glory of Rome would be revived, but never occurred

15. Charlemagne
After Charlemagne’s death in 814, empire split into 3 sections (France, Germany, Low Countries) so each of his sons could have one
Western Europe became series of regional monarchies with weak kings (aristocracy powerful)
Most powerful of these regional monarchies in Germany and northern Italy

16. Europe Divided
Culturally western Europe was united through Catholicism,
but politically it was very divided
No single language in western Europe (Latin was language of church, but spoken language was French, English, etc)

17. Things Turn Around Year 900
Agricultural Innovations such as the
moldboard plow, three-field system, horse collar, and stirrups
Viking raids began stopping in the 900s
This led to population growth, which led to economic innovation and the growth of cities and towns

18. Economic Growth More people meant more markets, trade grew
Harsh serfdom still existed, but serfs gaining more freedom
A commercial, market-based economy began to exist in western Europe
Feudal system weakened as towns grew (demand for peasant labor increased and landlords needed to entice them by giving them more freedom (now charged rent)

19. Growth of Towns and Cities
Towns and cities grew rapidly especially in Italy
Literacy spread in urban centers, as did use of vernacular (spoken) languages, like French and English
Asia still had more in cities than western Europe, but they were growing in western Europe
Merchant activity and craft production grew

20. Church based schools formed in 800s
Universities Grow
Church based schools formed in 800s
By 1000s, first universities created – they trained middle class in the cities in theology, medicine, and law
By 1100s, modern universities emerge throughout western Europe (such as Oxford and Cambridge in England)

21. Getting Back to the Feudal System
Began by 500s
Originally very local (lords had 5-10 vassals) but could span over large areas or kingdoms (such as Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire)
Feudalism hurt development of strong monarchies (feudal lords had power) but it reduced local warfare
Kings used feudalism to build power (France started as feudal lords near Paris who gradually expanded and built monarchy)

22. Set up a central monarchy with a bureaucracy to help rule
William the Conqueror
Set up a central monarchy with a bureaucracy to help rule
Led the Norman (from Normandy, France) invasion of England in 1066, extending feudal system to England

23. Feudal Monarchies
To extend power, feudal monarchies hired professional armies, and hired businessmen to run bureaucracies
Growth of feudal monarchies similar to China – both extensive bureaucracies

24. Limited Government
Strong monarchies didn’t develop across Europe, as regional states and feudal lords still had much power
Ex: Magna Carta and King John (1215) – forced to give up power (couldn’t add new taxes w/out parliament’s ok
Parliament = legislative body representing 3 privileged estates (church, nobles, urban leaders) not commoners

25. War fought between France and England
Hundred Years’ War ( )
War fought between France and England
Led to decline of feudal system (monarchs) saw that feudal militaries (which did most of fighting) weren’t too effective, and a paid was army better
Since noble’s military power no longer needed, feudal system began fading away

26. Western Europeans Crave Expansion
As the economy of western Europe began to grow, a period of expansionism occurred
Reasons for expansion:
1. Population was growing
2. Desire to spread Christianity
Germans expanded east, Christians eventually drove Muslims out of Spain, Vikings got to what is today Canada

27. The Crusades
Lasting impact of Crusades was West being exposed to Middle Eastern culture
The Crusades were the biggest expansionist movement
Urban II – Pope who ordered 1st Crusade

28. Religious Reform
Reform movements began to remove this secularism from the church and rid church of interference of feudal lords
Church officials often caught up in politics, hurting church
Investiture – practice of government appointing bishops, Gregory VII fought Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV on this issue and won
Began Western idea of separation of church and state
Gregory VII – Pope ( ) reformed church

29. Height of Medieval Civilization
Merchant activity was growing and the feudal system was slowly dying out
Medieval Western civilization reached its peak in the 1100s and the 1200s