The Middle Ages
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Transcript The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages
476 – 1500
Version 3
Before the Middle Ages…
THE ROMAN
EMPIRE
27 BCE – 476 CE
Largest Empire of
history to that date
REMEMBER
Rome was not built
in a day
AND it did not fall in
a day.
Rome’s peak was
about 200 CE.
It took 276 years to
collapse.
Benefits of the Roman Empire
More people had
education.
Better roads and
bridges
Sanitation in the
cities and clean
water.
CULTURE
LAWS
So What Happened to Rome?
Despotic – and crazy
– emperors.
Caligula was only
one example.
So What Happened to Rome?
Not enough soldiers.
The Germanic Tribes
figured out how to
fight the Romans –
and WIN.
So What Happened to Rome?
Not enough tax
money to support
the military or public
structures.
The Church
(Catholic) was
unsure about
fighting and giving
up tax money in the
300s – 476.
So what happened to Rome?
Not enough slaves
to support the
Roman way of life.
Problem began in the
300s.
So what happened to Rome?
The lead water
pipes???
Creates infertility?
Creates slower brain
abilities?
So what happened to Rome?
476 – A tribe called
the Vandals invaded
and sacked Rome.
End of the Empire.
THAT is where we
get the term
“vandalism”!
What happened
after Rome fell?
The Dark Ages
About 400 years of
chaos.
Germanic tribes only
seeking loot taking
from the weak.
The Norsemen
(Vikings) raiding
from the sea.
The Dark Ages: 400 - 800
Not much is known
from this period.
Few people could
write.
Few people had time
to write.
No real art comes
from this time in
Europe.
The Dark Ages
There were “spots”
where civilization
hung on.
Christian
monasteries in
remote locations.
Tended to be looked
at by people as
another type of
magic.
AND ….
The Age of Arthur?
Was there a King
Arthur?
Somewhere between 500 –
600 - ARTHUR
The Mabniogion
Arthur wasn’t really
a “king” like we
think of it.
He was probably a
Roman – Celt
cavalry commander
left after Rome
deserted Britain.
Arthurian Legend in Britain
What we can guess at
being true about Arthur:
He kept the invading
Angle and Saxon
tribes from taking
complete control.
He had a huge
victory that kept the
Angles/Saxons away
for a generation..
He had the time to
try to care about
justice.
Later in the Middle Ages the Arthur
story was made “appropriate”
Le Morte D’Arthur in
1485.
Arthur was made a
king.
Christianized story.
Women were
subservient / unfaithful.
Round Table and
Knights searching for
the Holy Grail.
There were probably other
“Arthur’s” in the Dark Ages ..
Stories and legends.
The “Arthur’s”
tended to lose in the
end.
And History is
written by the
victors.
Now – for some of
the “real” history
Things we know for sure!
By the 500s
Germanic invasions
had all but
destroyed the
Roman world.
Law and order
disappeared.
Infrastructures like
roads, bridges,
buildings fell apart.
Frankish Rulers
Franks – (France) –
Merovingian kings
Charlemagne and
the Frankish Empire
The Merovingians
400s the Franks
Germanic Tribe
conquered and
settled in France /
Germany.
481 Clovis became
king of the Franks.
King Clovis
Brutal king
BUT became a
Christian.
Saw that Christianity
had some educated
people that he
needed to help rule
his domain.
Problems for the Merovingians
Frankish custom to
divide your land
among all your sons.
Heirs began to kill
each other for their
inheritances.
So busy fighting the
governing was left
to the MAYORS OF
THE PALACE.
Charles Martel – Mayor of the
Palace
714 Charles Martel
(Charles the
Hammer) more or
less took over in all
but name.
Led the Franks to
defeat the Muslim
invasion in 732.
Charles the Hammer’s son:
Pepin the Short
752 – Pepin finished
off the Merovingians
and bought off the
Church and nobles.
Became King of the
Franks.
Convinced the Pope
that he could be his
“protection.”
Pepin’s Son: CHARLEMAGNE
771 Charlemagne
became king.
Doubled the size of
his kingdom to
include Germany,
France, northern
Spain and most of
Italy.
Created the Frankish
Empire
Charlemagne needed help
with his empire
Needed
communications
Needed educated
men to help
Charlemagne
needed …..
THE CHURCH
The Church started to
create schools and
monasteries to teach
reading and writing.
Made illuminated copies
of the Bible and Roman
manuscripts.
Spread the knowledge
around the empire.
First time in 300 years.
A Christian Realm under
Charlemagne
Defending the Pope
against the
Lombards (another
Germanic tribe) in
800 – Charlemagne
had an interesting
“problem” come up.
Charlemagne an EMPEROR?
Pope Leo III thought
it was a great idea if
HE crowned
Charlemagne
emperor.
Charlemagne liked
the idea of the
power of being an
emperor too - BUT
Charlemagne as Emperor?
BUT what does it
mean if the Pope
crowned him?
The pope had more
power than the
emperor.
Charlemagne did not
like that idea.
Emperor Charlemagne
Pope tricked
Charlemagne into
being emperor.
Charlemagne’s Empire
Divided land among
COUNTS.
Solve local problems
Stop feuds
Protect the weak
Raise taxes and
armies.
Charlemagne’s Empire
Sent royal
messengers on
inspections to tell
him how counts
were doing.
Charlemagne was
constantly traveling
to see for himself his
kingdom.
814 Charlemagne died.
Son Louis the Pious
was more concerned
about the purity of
his soul than ruling.
Charlemagne’s
grandsons went to
war for his kingdom.
The end of the Franks
Charles the Bald
took over what is
today France.
Louis got what is
today Germany.
Lothair took a strip
between the North
Sea to Italy.
800 – 1000: New Invaders
VIKINGS!
The VIKINGS
Came from
Scandinavia
(Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, Holland)
Called themselves
Northmen or
NORSEMEN.
Viking Invasions
TRIVIA: Viking
comes from AVIKING (fight as a
warrior).
Had GREAT boats
Sturdy in oceans
Shallow enough to
go up rivers.
Could be carried past
fortified bridges.
Viking Invasions
Brutal. No mercy in
battle.
What couldn’t be
stolen they’d burn.
Viking Trade
They also explored
and settled in other
countries.
Dublin (capitol of
Ireland) was a Viking
settlement.
Viking Trade
Since no one else
but Vikings were
using the waterways
– trade happened
through them.
Sometimes trade
was more profitable
than war.
Viking Culture
Worshipped many
gods.
Told EPICS about
gods and men.
Storytellers had
special status.
So did the CRONES.
Vikings accepted Christianity
BUT not until the
1100s.
The Effects of the Germanic /
Viking Invasions
People became very
isolated.
Not much
centralized control.
Nobles and local
people had to defend
themselves.
Trade declined.
Medieval Life
Feudalism
Life of the Nobility
Manorial System
(castles)
Feudalism: 900s - 1500
With weak central
government –
feudalism
developed.
Alliances of mutual
protection between
monarchs and
nobles of varying
degrees of power.
Feudal Relationship
Military service =
land ownership.
Fiefs – land with
peasants.
Warriors got a way to
make money in
exchange for being a
warrior for a king or
greater noble.
This is where the
knight began.
Knights
USUALLY cavalry
fighters .
Cost a lot for
upkeep of horse and
armor.
In exchange for land nobles
swore oaths of loyalty
To kings or greater
nobles.
Promised to provide
so many mounted
warriors for the
armies.
Nobles, if they did
their duty, could
pass on their land to
their heirs.
Feudalism: A Pyramid Scheme
King at the top.
Middle was the various
ranks of lords.
Vassals were nobles
who served a higher
ranked lord.
Nobles could pledge
services to more than
one lord!
One Siboto of Falkenstein
was pledged to 20
different lords!
Worked as long as one
of his lords didn’t
declare wary on the
other!
Feudal Obligations
Homage: The
ceremony of making
promises.
Knight promises
service to the king.
The king promises
fiefs to the knight.
Usual Feudal Obligations
Promised to bring a
certain number of
knights to fight for the
king.
40 – 60 days a year of
service to the king.
Serve in the lord’s court
Provide food and
lodging if the lord came
to visit.
To pay for educating /
dowry of the lord’s kids.
Pay ransom for the lord.
Castles for Defense
No big surprise –
warfare happened
quite a bit.
Every noble built a
castle – fortified
manor house – for
defense.
Castles for Defense
In the beginning –
mostly wooden fortlike structures with a
great hall that
everyone lived in.
Castles for Defense
Around 1100s
castles began to be
made of stone.
Built on a hill or
mound for defense.
Maybe a moat?
Inside the Castle Walls
Square towers called
KEEPS.
Strongest part of the
castle.
Usually had the great
hall for meals /
celebrations.
Some housing for
the family of the
noble.
Dungeon?
Inside the Castle Walls
Surrounding the
keep was the
BAILEY.
Large open area.
Had buildings like
barracks,
storerooms,
workshops, stables,
chapel.
Life in the castles
Not so glamorous as
the movies make
out!
Castles were for
security – NOT
comfort.
Nor sanitation!
Life of the Nobility
Within his fief, a
lord, or nobleman,
had almost total
authority.
Collected rents
Administered justice
Keep away invaders
who might try to
take his fief.
Life of a noblewoman
Few – if any – rights.
Could be wed by her
twelfth birthday
(sometimes younger)
Husband chosen by
father / brother.
Have children and take
care of the household.
Often the doctor.
Life of a noblewoman
SOMETIMES, their
husbands / fathers /
brothers trusted
them to do
themen’s duties
when they were at
war or the king’s
court.
Entertainment for Nobles
Tournaments!
Hunting!
Women and men did
falconry and archery.
Eating!
Entertainment by
traveling minstrels.
Becoming a Knight
Boy’s training began
at 7.
Became a page /
assistant / in the
house of another
lord.
Began to learn the
use of weapons and
some manners.
Becoming a Knight
At 15, if good
enough, they
became a SQUIRE.
Assisted the knight,
practiced using
weapons.
Had to prove himself
in battle before he
could become a
knight.
The Code of Chivalry
Code for knights to
be brave and…
Fight fair
Keep promises
Defend the Church
Treat women of
noble birth
courteously.
RARELY kept to the
code!!!!
The Manorial System
Usually the manor
only produced
enough food to
support the
peasants and lord’s
household on the
fief.
Hunger could be a
real problem with a
bad crop year.
Peasant Life
Poverty and
hardship.
Rarely lived beyond
the age of 40.
Famine, diseases,
war – peasants
hardest hit.
Peasant Life
Lived in one room
hovels, dirt floor, no
chimney, maybe one
or two stools and a
table.
Warmth came from
sleeping together.
Grain diet – very
little meat.
Strange thing:
People rarely
questioned the
social order of their
society.
They accepted that
nobles were “better”
than serfs /
peasants and had
more rights.
But:
Acceptance of the
social ladder also
meant you knew
your place and
might have a bit
more protection
than if you were out
on your own.