Transcript What were the Middle Ages?

MEDIEVAL AGES
(500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)
What were the Middle Ages?
• …the era between 500 to 1350 a.d.
• …known as “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Era”
• …after downfall of Romans, barbarian tribes
plundered European
countryside
• …West – splintered remains of classical world
• …East – wealthy with Byzantine and Muslim influences
•…violence and chaos reigned, but loyalties and changes took hold.
•…the time period in which classical influences from Greece and Rome were
temporarily lost to the general populace; which created an environment of
ignorance, corruption and violence.
•…”fend for yourself” or “die”.
•…the Franks became the most influential of the barbarian tribes in modern-day
Germany and France.
Where did the Middle Ages begin?
Who helped to create
the Middle Ages?
Frankish leaders
Clovis
• Around 481 a.d.
• No conscience, brutal, violent
and cruel
• Supported Christianity
• Name of the “Franks”
Pepin II
• Around 700 a.d.
• “Mayor of the Palace”
• Created hereditary leadership
for medieval world
Charles Martel
• Known as “the Hammer”
• Around 732 a.d.
• Stopped Muslim advance into
Western Europe
• Removed threat of Islamic ideas in
Christian lands
Pepin III
• Known as “the Short”
• Around 760 a.d.
• Crowned by Pope (with the grace of
God)
• Pope’s gain spiritual and political
power
• “Donation of Pepin”
• Formation of alliance between church
and state
Charlemagne
• 768 – 814 a.d.
• Greatest king of Medieval Europe
• Intelligent, religious and
had little formal education
• Conquered, united and maintained an
empire in Western Europe
• Title of “Emperor of the Romans” (close
ties between Franks and church)
Charlemagne’s system of government…
•100’s of regions ruled by a Count
•Each region possessed its own military of armed knights, laws and lands
•Capital at Aachen (modern-day Germany)
•Usage of Missi Dominici, who were the “eyes and ears of the king”
•Little to no taxes
•Every individual was to contribute to the kingdom in his or her own way
Charlemagne’s beliefs about education…
•Create schools to educate all in one fashion or another
•Scholars would be used from all over Europe
•Produce a usable, vernacular-translated Bible
•Create libraries and encourage the copying of religious texts to promote literacy
•Christianity based
•Convert to Frankish and Christian ways - accept baptism in
Christianity - or be executed
After Charlemagne’s death in 814 a.d…
• …his three grandsons (Louis the German, Lothair and Charles the Bald =
sons of Louis the Pious) divide the kingdom…
• …which leads to the downfall of the Frankish Kingdom and rule, because
of…
• …jealousy and internal conflicts, barbarian invasions and a general lack
of unification.
When Charlemagne’s kingdom was torn apart by internal strife,…
it opened the door for another “barbarian people” to
influence the European continent…
they were the…
VIKINGS
Who were the
Vikings?
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Most feared of all European invaders in the 800’s and 900’s a.d.
From Scandinavia, not Minnesootaaah!
Known as “Vikings, Danes, North men or Norse men”
Misunderstood throughout history, as the label of violent and crude was
only one aspect of Viking society.
What were the Vikings like?
• Democratic, loyal, resourceful,
curious, hard-working,
superstitious, creative,
explorers, war-like, diligent and
unrelenting…
• Seen as “rude, crude and
violent”
The Vikings were a significant reason why medieval society survived and thrived
throughout its difficult existence…
without the Vikings, the assimilated, multi-cultural society that would develop
in Europe would never have been.
To deal with the
ever-changing violence of
medieval life, two distinct ways
of survival developed to
maintain a sense of
organization and to help
protect individual kingdoms.
They were feudalism and
manorialism.
Feudal System
Characteristics of feudal system…
• Political system based on ownership of land
• “Land, loyalty, protection, service and
relationships”
• Fief – land
• Vassal – subordinate follower, feudal position
• Primogenture – inheritance of position
• Dowry – money given as a gift for service or to the
groom in an arranged marriage
• Relationship based on an exchange of goods and
services
•
Monarch – total control and influence, top of feudal system
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Nobility – upper class and wealthy, lived in castles or palaces,
dependent on common people, feudal obligations, medieval cultural
creativity and provided entertainment for kingdom
•
Peasants (known as “serfs”) – common people, mainly farmers and
town folk, tied to the land for life, average life span 40 years,
born/live/die in same place, simple and boring life style
• Honorable relationship between legal equals
• Personal loyalties and obligations
• Feudal justice – trial by battle, oath taking and ordeals
DESCRIPTION
OF
FEUDAL SYSTEM
pp. 186 – 190
READ, READ, READ
Manor System
Characteristics of Manor System…
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Economic system closely connected to feudal
system
Based on the successful operation of the “manor”
Manor – lord’s estate (property and lands)
Self-sufficiency – being able to operate or survive
without any outside help
Focused on “sustenance” instead of “profit”
Manorial System continued…
• The castle (or manor house) was the main feature of the “manor
system”
• Wide-spread trade was unknown, so self-sufficiency was
necessary
Ludlow
Edinburgh
Newark
Cardiff
Leeds
Canterbury
Pembroke
Tower of
London
Alnwick
Bamburgh
Bodiam
Harlech
Beaumaris
Deal
Helmsley
Berry Pomeroy
Dover
Laugharne
Kenilworth
Llansteffan
Oxwich
Kirby Muxloe
Llawhaden
Picton
Lewes
Nunney
Powis
Raglan
Traquair
Caerlaverock
Clifford's Tower
Rhuddlan
Whittington
Sherborne
Wiston
Chepstow
Other important influences on
the Middle Ages…
The Church…
Medieval Church…
•…became the backbone of society, as
Christianity was the core of most medieval lives
•…administered the sacraments and led life by
example
•…belief that faith in Christ, living a life of
morality and participation in the sacraments
would lead to salvation
•…was main “rival” of kings, as both desired
similar things during this era – such as land,
influence, titles, money, power, etc
M
edieval C
hurch
P
ope
"S
piritual andS
ecular leader of theC
hristianC
hurch"
C
uria
"advisorstotheP
ope"
"veryinfluential"
know
nasC
ardinals
A
rchbishops
"regional supervisors"
B
ishops
"local supervisors"
P
riests
"adm
inisteredthesacram
ents"
"teachingabout livlihoodandm
orality"
M
onks/N
uns
"providedbasicsocial services"
"hospitality, providers, educators"
Characteristics of the church…
• …religious, social and/or education
centers
• …pride in local churches
• …required “tithe” or contributions to
the church
• …gender equality in heaven, but maledominated on earth
• …commitment to spiritual pursuits
through monks and nuns
• …life of service, educating and living a
moral life
• …creation of monasteries and
convents
• …became a spiritual and secular
power
• …rising conflict between
“secular kings” and “papal
supremacy” (would lead to
difficult times between kings
and popes)
Power of the church…
• Canon law – absolute authority in religious affairs as determined by the church; dealt
with teachings and morality
• Excommunication – an individual cut off from the church without sacraments or burial
• Interdict – the church cutting off a town or region from receiving the sacraments or burial
• Canon law was very influential with ending feudal conflicts and enforcing its will on medieval society
• …internal reform movements, such as the Cluniac Reforms which reorganized the faltering
direction of the church and ended its corruption and greed
• … the Franciscan, Dominican and Beguines Orders transformed the Christian Church to act in
societies best interest (WWJD)