Transcript The Middle Ages

The
Middle
Ages
Chapter 13 Section 2
The Middle Ages
The Big Idea
Christianity and social systems influenced
life in Europe in the Middle Ages.
Main Ideas
• The Christian church influenced nearly every aspect of
society in the Middle Ages.
• Complicated political and economic systems governed life
in the Middle Ages.
• The period after 1000 was a time of great changes in
medieval society.
Main Idea 1:
The Christian church influenced nearly every
aspect of society in the Middle Ages.
The Middle Ages in Europe lasted from about 500 to
about 1500.
The Middle Ages are also known as the medieval period.
Nearly everyone in Europe in the Middle Ages was
Christian. Europeans felt tied together by their beliefs.
Almost no part of life in Europe was unaffected by the
Christian church and its teachings.
The Church’s Roles
Politics
Art
Daily Life
• Church leaders
were also political
leaders.
• Most art in the
Middle Ages was
influenced by the
church.
• People’s lives
often centered
around their local
church.
• Art, literature,
and music dealt
with religious
themes.
• Markets, festivals,
and ceremonies
were held in
churches.
• A new style of
architecture
called Gothic
architecture was
used for large
churches.
• Priests advised
people on how to
live and kept
written records
for them.
• The pope, the
head of the
church, was one
of the most
powerful people
in Europe.
• The pope even
had the power to
start wars, such
as the Crusades.
Main Idea 2:
Complicated political and economic systems
governed life in the Middle Ages.
Feudal System
• Political system based on exchange of land for military service
• Nobles gave land to knights.
• Knights promised to serve nobles loyally, especially in war.
Manor System
• Economic system centered on large estates called manors
• Nobles owned manors but needed workers.
• Peasants and serfs lived on the manor and worked the fields.
In exchange for a place to live, they gave the noble most of
the harvest.
Towns and Trade
• Not everyone in Europe lived on manors. Some lived
in towns, which were usually small, dirty, and dark.
• Many people who lived in towns worked as traders.
• After the year 1000 trade increased dramatically.
• As trade grew, more people moved to cities. As cities
became larger, they became centers of culture and
wealth.
Main Idea 3:
The period after 1000 was a time of great
changes in medieval society.
• Document signed by King John of England in
1215
Magna Carta • Stated that the king had to obey the law
• Considered an early step toward democracy
Black Death
• Swept through Europe after 1347
• Killed up to a third of Europe’s population
• Fought between England and France
Hundred
Years’ War
• French victory inspired kings to increase their
power, leading to the creation of a nationstate.