Transcript THE MIDDLE AGES

THE
MIDDLE
AGES
The fall of Rome brought many important
changes to Western Europe.
Effects of the Fall of Rome
Germanic tribes took over Roman lands.
 Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place
of the Western Roman Empire in Europe.
 Initially, there was no system for
collecting taxes.
 Kingdoms were always at war with one
another.
 People lost interest in learning.
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Warfare increased. Trade decreased.
The “Dark Ages” began.
The “Dark Ages”
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Historians call the period following the fall
of Rome the “Dark Ages.”
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Formerly, this period is known as the
beginning of the Middle Ages.
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It was a time of increased warfare,
decreased trade, and a decline in learning.
“THE DARK AGES”
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COVERED ABOUT 600 YEARS
(400 A.D. TO 1000 A.D.)
LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT
THIS TIME (MOST PEOPLE
WERE NOT EDUCATED AND
NEITHER READ NOR WROTE)
INTELLECTUAL LIFE
VANISHED
EVEN CHARLEMAGNE WAS
ILLITERATE
THE CHURCH WAS THE
MAINSTAY OF MEDIEVAL LIFE
Clovis was
an important
king of the
Franks. The
Franks were
one of the
largest
Germanic
tribes.
Germanic Kingdoms
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Clovis converted to Christianity after calling for Jesus’
help during battle – the enemy fled after the plea
Clovis gained support of the Roman Catholic Church
By 510, Clovis established Frankish kingdom from
Pyrenees to present day Germany
After Clovis death, his sons divided the kingdom
Germans & Romans intermarried = German customs
had an important role
Extended family was center of society
CHARLEMAGNE
CHARLEMAGNE’S STATUE
OUTSIDE
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
Charlemagne
600 & 700’s, Frankish kings lost their power to
the chief officers of the king’s household =
mayors of the palace
 Pepin assumed the kingship
 Pepin’s son became king after his death in 768
His son was Charles the Great – Charlemagne
 Charlemagne = one of history’s great kings/
curious, driven, intelligent, strong warrior,
devout Christian/ was illiterate, but strongly
supported learning
 Ruled from 768 to 814/ Expanded the Frankish
kingdom into Carolingian empire = covered
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Fall of Carolingian empire
Charlemagne died in 814/ by 844 Carolingian
empire divided into 3 kingdoms by grandsons
 Muslims invaded southern France
 Magyars settled on the plains of Hungary
 Vikings (Norsemen of Scandinavia) attacked the
empire
 Vikings were superb warriors & shipbuilders/
famed dragon ships carrying about 50 men
could go shallow rivers to attack inland
 9th century, Vikings settled in Europe
 911, Frankish king gave Vikings land of
Normandy
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Feudalism
Invaders posed a threat to the safety of the
people due to decentralized government
 People began to turn landed aristocrats or
nobles for protection/ led to feudalism
 Feudalism arose between 800-900/ similar
system in Japan- Samurai
 Vassalage = center of feudalism/ came from
Germanic society where warriors swore oath to
their leader
 Vassal = man who served a lord militarily
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Feudalism: Military
Service for Land
Feudalism
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Knights = heavily armored warriors
Male = armor made of metal links or plates
Frankish army initially set up foot soldiers in mail
Heavily armored knights dominated warfare for over
500 years
Knights had great prestige & formed much of
European aristocracy
Early Middle Ages (500-1000) wealth was based on
owning land/very little trade
Nobles gave a piece of land to vassals in exchange for
fighting = fief
Feudalism
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Vassals had political authority in their fief/in charge of
keeping order
Feudalism became complicated = kings had vassals
who had vassals
Feudal contract = unwritten rules that characterized
feudalism/relationship between king & vassal/knights
for about 40-60 days a year
Vassals were to advise the lord, financial obligations to
the lord, knighting of his eldest son,
Lord supported the vassal with land grant & protection
in military & court
Feudalism
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11th & 12th century, under influence of Churchchivalry became important to knights
Chivalry = civilized behavior, knights were to defend
the church & defenseless people, treat captives as
honored guests, fight for glory not rewards
Women could own property, but were under control of
men/ first their fathers, then their husbands
Lady of the castle in charge of household & estate
Eleanor of Aquitane = married to king Louis VII of
France & Henry II of England/ 2 children became
kings of England
Feudal Obligations
Vassals:
Military service for
40-60 days.
Homage.
Serve on the lord’s
court.
Gifts for weddings
and knighthoods.
Ransom.
Lords:
Protection.
Justice.
Wardship – oversee
personal affairs and
family if vassal dies
in service.
Feudalism
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Castles = permanent residences & fortresses/#’s
increased in high middle ages(1000-1300)
Middle Ages = nobles dominated European society/
main concern was warfare
Nobles = kings, dukes, counts, barons, bishops,
archbishops
Knighthood = united lords & knights in aristocracy
Knights = trained as warriors/ no adult responsibility
Young knights held tournaments to show their skills/
joust became main attraction
Alfred the Great Unified
The Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy
England
King Alfred the Great united the various
kingdoms of England that had been ruled by
Anglo-Saxon kings
 Angles, Saxons, Germanic people were united
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Norman Conquest
10/4/1066, William of Normandy defeated King
Harold of England at the battle of Hastings
 William was then crowned King of England
 Norman knights received land as a fief and
swore allegiance to the king
 Marriage of French & Anglo-Saxons led to a
new English culture
 Normans adopted Anglo-Saxon institutions =
office of sheriff, census called Domesday Book
 William further developed taxation & royal
courts
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William I, the Conqueror
Brought Norman
Feudalism To England