Transcript Why did the Middle Ages Turn to Feudalism

What happened before, to set the stage for feudalistic life?
WHY DID THE MIDDLE AGES TURN TO
FEUDALISM?
HOW THE MIDDLE AGES BEGAN
 Rome
fell leaving Europe in disunity,
conflict, and poverty and in the hands of
invaders
 A new European civilization would have to
develop and a blended culture emerged:
Greco-Roman, German, and Christian
GROUPS WHO SHAPED EUROPE
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The Franks(French):
strongest Germanic
kingdom to emerge in
Western Europe; allied with
the powerful Christian
Church of Rome
Muslim World: Overran
Christian lands and took
control of Spain

Led to the Battle of Tours in
A.D. 732-the Christians
wanted to push them out
CHARLEMAGNE/CHARLES THE GREAT
Built a united empire across France,
Germany, and part of Italy
 Crowned Emperor of the Romans by the
Pope Leo III after helping crush a rebellion of
Nobles in Rome.

 Very
significant b/c a Christian pope crowned a
Germanic King as successor to Rome.
 This laid the ground for future power struggles
between Rome and Germany
AFTER CHARLEMAGNE
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When he died his empire soon fell, too
This was followed by 30 years of power struggles
His grandson soon divided the region into 3 parts
Charlemagne left a legacy of a strong and united
Christian kingdom
Wave of invasions ensued-all seeking to pillage
Western Europe: Muslims; Magyars (Hungary); and
Vikings (Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
THE CHURCH AND MEDIEVAL LIFE

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Christian rituals and
faith were part of
everyday life
The Church was the
social center as well as
a place to worship

They took pride in it and
tithed (gave 10% of
income to the churchBiblical) to keep it
beautiful.
MONKS AND NUNS

Monks (men) and
nuns (women)
were those who
withdrew from
worldly life to
devote their life to
God within
monasteries and
convents.

http://www.history
forkids.org/learn/
medieval/people/
monks.htm#!
Saint Benedict: monk in A.D. 530 who drew up a set
of rules to regulate monastic life: Benedictine Rule:
 This “law” included 3
main vows:

Obedience to the
abbot/abbess
 Poverty
 Chastity/Purity

THE POWER OF THE CHURCH GROWS
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The church controlled spiritual life and soon
dominated secular life
Concept of Papal Supremacy developed (primarily the
Catholic faith): Pope considered representative of
Christ and therefore has authority over all secular
rulers.
Moreover, this soon led to Papal States-lands
belonging to the pope.
Church and state were one.
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
 Canon
Law: Laws and courts belonging
to the medieval church; disobedience led
to a range of penalties.
 The most severe penalty was
excommunication: not receiving
sacraments or a “Christian” burial
REFORMS
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As the Church’s wealth and power grew-its discipline
weakened
Throughout the Middle Ages there became an evident need
for reform
Francis of Assisi set up friars-monks who did not live in
monasteries but traveled…Why did this help?
Cluniac Reforms: initiated by Abbot Berno of Cluny
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Revived Benedictine rule
Nobles could no longer interfere with monastic affairs
Brought devoted men into the ministry
A.D. 1073: Pope Gregory VII applied the reforms to the entire
church as a whole. He then outlawed marriage for priests and
simony (the selling of church offices and buying pardons for sins)