2.  Dark Ages, the early medieval period of western European history. Specifically, the term refers to the time (476–800) when there was no Roman (or Holy Roman) emperor in the West; or, more generally, to the period between about 500 and 1000, which was marked by frequent warfare and a virtual disappearance of urban life. It is now rarely used by historians because of the value judgment it implies. Though sometimes taken to derive its meaning from the fact that little was then known about the period, the term’s more usual and pejorative sense is of a period of intellectual darkness and barbarity.

3.  Government  Expands the Frankish kingdom and unites Western Europe  Crowned Holy Roman Emperor  Divides Empire into counties headed by a count

4. Spreads Christianity  Spread by force or through education Education  Promoted learning to educate clergy and government officials  Schools were for nobles’ children taught by monks  Scholars produced readable Bibles

5.  A social and political system that developed after Rome fell  Alliances between vassals based on ownership of land  Characteristics: loyalty, service, protection, and power structure  Kings/lords/nobles give land to lesser nobles  They become his vassals  Vassals swore an oath of loyalty, fought battles acted as the lord’s advisors

6.  Knights were from the noble class  Training › Age seven “page” learned manners, weaponry › Age twelve “squire” cared for horse, weapons, and armor › Tried in battle to become a knight Fights between lords and vassals for power and land Peasants suffer hardships. The church steps in to help them.

8.  The accused would be brought before the lord for trial  Trial by battle, Trial by compurgation or oath taking  Trial by ordeal Example: Hot iron or boiling water

9.  The manor system is an economic system based on agriculture.  Manors were large estates that included farms and fields  Grew their own food and made everything they needed. “ Self sufficient”

10. Lord holds 1/3 of land Peasants work 2/3 of land. They could not leave the land without permission Nobles lived in castles built on hills for defense Marriage was seen as a way to advance fortunes

14.  The Crusades made Italy the center of trade  Ships would carry soldiers to the Holy Land and return with goods from Asia and the Middle East  Major trade centers were Kiev and Flanders –woolen cloth, fur, hemp. silk, spices and sugar

15.  Hanseatic League - German cities joined together to control and protect trade.  Trade fairs developed as a place to buy and sell goods  News and ideas were exchanged

16.  Goods were manufactured in homes  This was known as the domestic system

17.  People needed a place to exchange currencies  Banks began to loan money  Gave out bills of exchange (like checks)

18.  Investing  The beginnings of capitalism  People began to invest capital in order to make profits  To raise money people began to form partnerships  Investors created a market economy  All land. Labor and capital were controlled by private individuals

19.  Growth of towns  Towns won self government (no longer under the control of a manor lord)  A lord granted a charter that listed their rights

20.  People living in towns had 4 basic rights  Freedom given after 1 year and 1 day  Exemption: a person did not have to work on the manors ( serve the lord)  Town justice – they had their own courts  Commercial privileges: free trade

21.  Merchant guilds provided trade protection  Only locals who paid fees could trade  Craft guilds set rules for wages, hours, and working conditions  Craft guilds set rules for training of skilled workers  Merchants and master workers formed the new middle class

22.  People’s faith in God was shaken  The Church lost some of its power and importance  Workers could demand higher wages because the plague killed so many workers

23.  New wealth and a middle class  Trade organizations  New ways of doing business  Banking  Investing  Growth of towns  The spread of disease