Transcript The Middle Ages Why are they the dark ages?

THE MIDDLE AGES
END OF AN EMPIRE?
Why are they the dark ages?
- The collapse of trade and towns, kind of
- Loss of literacy and a common language
- Development of Germanic kingdoms
The Barbarian Kingdoms c. 500 ce
THE CHURCH EXTENDS IT’S POWER
Used Church revenues to:
-Raise armies
-Repair roads
-Care for the poor
-Evangelized The Church
STRENGTHENING OF PAPAL
POWER
St. Benedict sets
rules for monasteries
-Once a monk enters a monastery, he is to remain there
for life
-Daily life should follow a strict schedule, pray 8 times
per day
-Seven hours a day dedicated to manual labor
-2 hours per day devoted to reading
-2 meals per day, wine ok, but no red meat
MONTY PYTHON:
The beginning of Witch Village
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntika
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FEUDALISM THE BASIS OF
GOVERNANCE
A political and military system based on holding of land: the control of the
land was the key to the system
MONTY PYTHON
Constitutional Peasants
THE MANOR SYSTEM
The economic engine behind Feudalism
A small estate from which a lord’s family gained it’s livelihood
Self-sufficient
Serfs
Free peasants
CHIVALRY
From French word Cheval (horse) and Chevalier (horse-riding lord)
Aid the poor and help the weak
Lords fight bravely in the defense of three masters:
-Earthly feudal lord
-Heavenly Lord
-Chosen lady
MONTY PYTHON
The Black Knight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUegz690
ROMANTIC LOVE
Under the code of chivalry, a knight’s duty to his lady becomes equally
important as to his duty to his lord
Marriage is to advance status, usually arranged
No sex in romantic love
MONTY PYTHON
The tale of Sir Lancelot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZbG7iwRh
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