1. Patterns of Medieval Life (ca. 500–1300)
Chapter 11
Patterns of Medieval Life
(ca. 500–1300)

2. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Germanic Tribes
Origins and impact on Rome
Basic characteristics of Germanic society
Germanic law
Germanic literature: Beowulf
Germanic art and its influence
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

3. Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance
Establishment of the Holy Roman Empire
Expansion of Christendom and removal of Muslim populations
Rebirth of Classical learning
Charlemagne established schools and gathered learned teachers from throughout the known world
Illuminated manuscripts – miniscule scripting
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4. Early Medieval Culture
Disintegration of the Charlemagne Empire
The emperor’s death in 814; empire divided briefly amongst three sons
Development of feudalism
Weak administration opened the door for stronger influence from local lords
Culture of the feudal nobility
The literature of the feudal nobility: the Song of Roland
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

5. The Norman Conquest and the Arts
The Bayeux Tapestry
Technically an embroidery; a visual record of the conquest of England by William of Normandy
Castles and churches
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

6. The Lives of Medieval Serfs
Serfs represented more than ninety percent of the population at the time
Owned no land and worked the estates of the wealthy lords in return for protection
Life centered around the manor or fief, which was largely self-sustaining
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

7. The Christian Crusades
Attempts (some successful) of European Christians to push Muslim peoples from the eastern Mediterranean; especially Jerusalem
Largely economic foraging missions for the sons of wealthy lords who were not first-born beneficiaries of primogeniture
Ultimately opened trade and exchange of culture between the West and East
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

8. The Medieval Romance and the Code of Courtly Love
To some degree inspired by the Crusades
A mode of literary entertainment, the medieval romance grew from rhymed verse to written prose in the vernacular languages of Europe
Most popular themes revolved around adultery involving King Arthur of England, Sir Lancelot, and Queen Guinevere
Enhanced by the traveling troubadours – persons of noble birth who would recite lyric poetry
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

9. The Rise of Medieval Towns
Usually located near highways or rivers and outside the walls of a fortified town or castle
Characterized by a permanent marketplace and the presence of craftsmen
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.