The Middle Ages in Western Europe

1. The Middle Ages in Western Europe • Began with the fall of Rome and lasted until the 15th century Two general periods: • 500-1000 Dark Ages • Gradual recovery from the shock of Rome’s collapse • 1000-1450 Late Middle Ages • Growing interaction with other societies

3. 500-1000 The Dark Ages Western medieval Europe faced many problems: • Italy was divided • Spain in hands of Muslims • Frequent invasions • Weak rulers • Subsistence agriculture • Intellectual activity declined • Main forces holding society together were feudalism and the Church

4. Nomadic Invasions • Western Europe under attack by invaders • Vikings - Scandinavia • Magyars - Hungary • Muslims - Middle East • Resulted in weak government and lack of durable economic activity beyond farming

5. Vikings used multi-oared long boats to travel along the North Atlantic Coast and inland rivers. Vikings were raiders, but also merchants and fishermen Vikings converted to Christianity

7. Impact of invasion and weak rule Feudalism: general term for the social, political and economic system that emerged Protection • people were vulnerable to constant invasion Population shift • many left cities and moved to the countryside Economic decline • trade contacts were disrupted

8. Feudalism • System of obligations based on landowning • Those who owned land (nobles) granted land and protection to those who did not own land in exchange for service, payments, and goods • Landlords: could afford horses and iron weapons • Vassals: lesser lords who often owned military service to landlords • Feudal relationships started small and local and then spread to extend over entire kingdoms • examples of feudal monarchy in France and England

9. Manorialism or Manor System • Economic system of feudalism based on relationship between landlords and peasants • Peasants (serfs) worked land on behalf of nobles and in return were given protection • Self sufficient agricultural-based system centered on estates or manors • No market economy – no need to leave manor • Peasants rarely traveled more than 30 miles in their lifetimes

11. Feudal Society Roles • http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/17176-living-in-medieval-europe-feudalism-video.htm

12. The Catholic Church: hierarchical structure and most powerful force in medieval Europe

13. The Church: Political and Spiritual Power • The Pope in Rome was the top authority • Regional churches were headed by bishops who appointed local priests • Political power was decentralized • Clergy were the “educated” during the Dark Ages as they were the few literate in society • Focal point of life for most people was on the activities and rituals of the Church

14. Why was the Church so powerful in the Middle Ages? • Controlled people’s souls through the sacraments (baptism, communion, etc.) • Threat of excommunication and interdiction (banishment from the Church) • Canon law (religious law) governed both laypeople (members of the church) and the clergy (officials of the church)

15. Church Hierarchy Pope (head of the Church) Bishops (supervised priests; settled disputes over Church teachings and practices) Priests (gave the sacraments; main contact for most people)

16. Western Europe in late Middle Ages1000-1450 How did Europe change economically, politically, socially, religiously, and culturally? What caused these changes?

17. The Crusades • What motivated the Crusades? • Was it primarily a religious motive, or was it something else? • Structured Academic Controversy

18. Cause #1--Changes in Agriculture and Population

19. How did changes in agriculture and population impact Europe? • The population doubled to about 80 million by 1300. May have had to do with warmer climate. • The horse collar and teams of horses used to pull plows increased efficiency of agriculture • Three-field system: planted on two-thirds of land and planted oats on one-third to increase nitrogen

20. Cause #2—The Black Death1346-1352

21. How did the Black Death Change Europe? • Killed one-third of the population • Fewer workers meant serfs, peasants and urban workers could demand freedom and higher wages • Noble and merchant resistance led to peasant revolts • Some serfs moved to cities which weakened manorial system and power of feudal lords

22. Cause #3 The Hundred Years War1337-1453 (yes, it’s actually 116 years)

23. How did the Hundred Years War Change Europe? • English developed the longbow to counter French knights • Greater range, could be loaded more quickly, fired arrows to pierce armor • English used foot soldiers • An army of foot soldiers recruited from common people was more reliable than semi-independent nobles bound by loyalty • Rise of patriotism toward king and country

24. Cause #4 Growth of Towns and Cities

25. How did growth in towns and cities change Europe? • Crusades had brought Europeans in touch with Asian and African merchants who had luxury goods • Towns became centers of shipping and banking • Gradual changes from agriculturally-based rural to commercially-based urban society • Need for coinage for trade with the East • Growth of banking

26. How did guilds change labor? • Individuals in the same business or trade working together to improve their economic and social conditions • Stressed security and mutual control of market not individual profit - guild membership was limited - regulated apprenticeship program - discouraged new methods or innovation - guaranteed quality of product

27. Cause #5: Growth of Italian City-States

28. How did Italian City-States Help to change Europe? • Capitalized on proximity to eastern Mediterranean and ties with Muslim and Byzantine merchants • Manufacturing of cloth (Florence) and metal (Milan) created profits to be used for trade • Rise of banking • Displayed wealth by patronizing artists

29. Europe after Feudalism • Feudal kingdoms began to dissolve and people were organized along cultural and linguistic (language sp0ken) lines • By the end of the period, Europe had developed a series of separate monarchies (France, England, Spain)

30. Look at the impact of increased trade. How would this undercut manorialism?

31. Revival of Learning • Muslims and Byzantine scholars kept Classical Greek learning alive • Crusades brought Europe into contact with these works and out of the “dark ages” • Poets began to use vernacular or everyday, local language (instead of Latin) • Growth of universities in Europe

32. Compare & Contrast Women in Western Europe compared to Islamic societies: • In some ways higher status • Less segregated in religion and less confined in home • No property rights • Increasingly patriarchal over time Feudal society compared to Japan Development of individual nation-states (England & France) as opposed to centralized empire in China

33. Japanese vs. European Feudalism Similarities • King & Emperor largely symbolic • Lord-vassal relationship • Samurai and knights served higher lords • Loyalty, bravery, and honor • bushido vs. chivalry • Family lineage important

34. Differences between European and Japanese Feudalism Europe • Goal was survival • Relationships based on legal code • Only firstborn son was heir • Cult of chivalry—women placed on pedestal • Some contempt for arts and learning Japan • Seppuku or hari-kari; stoic acceptance of death • Relationships based on moral code • Any son adopted was heir • Women should have samurai attitude—be tough • Interest in arts and learning