Transcript The Early Middle Ages: The Franks & Feudalism

Journal
During the Middle Ages, there
was a code of conduct called
Chivalry. What do you think of
when you hear this word? What
does it mean to you?
The Early Middle Ages:
The Franks & Feudalism
Or..were the Dark Ages really a
dark as they seemed?
Who sacked the city of Rome?
The Franks
• In the Roman province of Gaul (France)
• No cities or written laws
– 100s of tiny kingdoms
– Farmers or herders
• Swore loyalty to King
– weapons & loot
Clovis
• Converts to Christianity after
a battle
• Church supports Clovis’s
conquests
• by 511 AD—united all of the
Franks into one kingdom
• Two forces were now allied
1. Military (Franks)
2. Spiritual (Church)
Charles Martel
• extended Frank’s reign to the north,
south, and east
• defeated Muslims at the Battle of
Tours
– Stopped the Muslim expansion into W.
Europe
– becomes a Christian hero
Pepin the Short
• son of Charles Martel
• Fights the Lombards for the Church
• pope declares him “king by the
Grace of God”
• this begins the Carolingian
Dynasty
Charlemagne
• Greatest European empire since Rome
• Summer military campaigns
– Muslims in Spain and Germanic tribes
• Spread Christianity by conquering the
east and south
• Holy Roman Emperor
– joining of Germanic power, the Church,
and the heritage of the Roman Empire
Charlemagne’s Empire
Included
2/3 of
Italy, all of
France, a
small part
of Spain,
and
Germany
Charlemagne Cnt.
• Limits rule of the nobles
• Visits whole kingdom
• Increases Education
– Irish, English, German, Italian,
and Spanish scholars
– school for court children
• Monasteries—trained monks
– expanded libraries
– handwritten copies of books
After Charlemagne
• Grandsons split empire
• Magyars—900 AD, cavalry
from Hungary invade
• Vikings—From Scandinavia,
sailors
– Raided and looted from Ireland
to France
What is Feudalism?
• Social Structure of the Middle Ages
• Based on loyalty and importance of the Oath
• Keep these words in mind while you are watching
the film:
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–
–
–
–
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Manor
Lords
Vassals
Fief
Knights
Serf
Peasants
Self-Sufficiency
Feudalism
Social PyramidDependent on each
Gives
King/Lord
Vassal
Land (fief)
Power/
authority
Collects
Taxes
Loyalty
Military service
Taxes
other: Relationships
King
Lords
Gives
Lesser Nobles,
Knights
Serfs
Peasants
Manor Lord
Serf
Small land
Labor/taxes
Protection
Loyalty
Basic needs
Military service
(sometimes)
The Manor System
• Self-Sufficient
– All needs provided
on estate
• Controlled by
Lord
– (who was
someone else’s
Vassal)
– Remember:
Chivalry
• Complex rules governing
society
• Three Masters:
– Feudal Lord
– Heavenly Lord
– Chosen Lady
• Knights usually wealthy
– Education starts at 7 till 21
• Tournaments, troubadours,
poetry
– Real warfare brutal
• Few women had authority