Transcript Document
SSWH7 The student will analyze European medieval society
with regard to culture, politics, society, and economics.
a. Explain the manorial system and feudalism; include the
status of peasants and feudal monarchies and the importance
of Charlemagne.
600 & 700’s, Frankish kings lost their power to the chief
officers of the king’s household = mayor’s of the palace
Pepin assumed the kingship
Pepin’s son became king after his death in 768 = 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 much of western & central
Europe
Charlemagne established missi dominci (messengers of the
lord king) two men who were sent to make for sure the kings
wishes were followed
800, he was crowned emperor of the Romans/ the coronation
symbolized the coming together of the Roman, Christian, &
Germanic elements that forged European civilization
Carolingian Renaissance was promoted by Charlemagne
desire to promote learning
Benedictine monks played important role in revival of
learning
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 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
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 JapanSamurai
Vassalage = center of feudalism/ came from Germanic society
where warriors swore oath to their leader
Vassal = man who served a lord militarily
Feudalism: Military
Service for Land
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
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
Vassals:
Lords:
Military service for 4060 days.
Homage.
Serve on the lord’s
court.
Gifts for weddings and
knighthoods.
Ransom.
Protection.
Justice.
Wardship – oversee
personal affairs and
family if vassal dies in
service.
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
11th & 12th century, under influence of Church- chivalry
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