The Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages

2. Middle Ages • 1,000 year period from fall of Rome to beginning of modern times (500 – 1500) • Early (Dark) MA – 5th – 10th C. – disorder & decline • High (Later) MA – 11th – 15th C – advancing toward a higher civilization

4. Decline – Germanic invasions • Decline of trade & industry • Merchants stopped shipping (fear of bandits) • Roads deteriorated • Lacking markets, industry shut down • Cities declined in population • Unemployed workmen moved to rural areas

5. Decline cont. • Decline of Learning & Culture • Roman schools, libraries, museums destroyed • Arts and sciences were neglected • Reading and writing were forgotten – more concerned with staying alive

6. Decline cont. • Decline of strong central government • Many weak Germanic kingdoms (Visigoths, Ostragoths, Angles, Saxons, Franks) • Failed to maintain order, provide protection, insure justice • Lacked manpower • Lacked large armies • Lacked roads & bridges • Lacked rules of succession

7. Frankish Kingdom • Only strong Germanic government • Clovis (Frank) – removed rivals, converted Franks to Christianity • Monasteries, monks; best educated communities • Gregory I – Church becomes more secular (worldly) • Charles Martel – defeated invading Moors at the Battle of Tours (732) – ended Muslim threat into Christian Europe. • Pepin – defeated Lombards in Italy and ceded all lands to the Pope (donation of Pepin) First in Carolingian dynasty

9. Charlemagne (768 – 814) • Conquered Muslims (Spain), Slavs, Saxons • Thus increased power of Catholic Church • 800 AD crowned “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope Leo III • Later Otto I (Great) strengthened region into Holy Roman Empire • Provinces ruled by nobles; missi dominici (messengers) sent to check power of nobles • Established schools, encouraged copying of Latin manuscripts

14. Charlemagne cont. • After his death, divided into sections, nobles gained power over local territory • 9th-10th C. invasions • Muslims along southern coast • Magyars from Hungary • Norsemen (Vikings) based in Scandinavia – expert sailors and fierce fighters; sacked town after town, plundered • http://www.history.com/videos/who-were-the-vikings • http://www.history.com/videos/life-of-a-viking

17. Feudalism • Invasions & disorder led to new system • Turned to local aristocrats & nobles for protection • Feudalism: Economic, political, social, military system based on services for land • Vassal – served a lord in exchange for grant of land

18. Feudalism cont. • Knights emerged with armor, lances, better protected horses; became the backbone of European aristocracy • Little trade so wealth based on land • Land granted was called a fief

19. Feudalism cont. • Lords were kings, dukes, counts, barons, etc. • Held political, economic, social power • Knights sometimes fought each other • Chivalry – Ideal, civilized behavior; code of ethics • Defend Church • Help the poor • Defend their lord, lady, etc.

23. Feudalism cont. • http://www.history.com/videos/heavy-cavalry-of-the-middle-ages • http://www.history.com/videos/weapons-of-the-middle-ages • Most women under control of men • Men often at war – women had to manage the estate • So, many responsibilities but subservient to men

24. Manorial System • Agricultural estate run by a lord and worked by peasants. • Small farmers needed protection; gave up land to lords; used land • Serfs – peasants bound to the land • Provided labor, paid rent, and subject to lord’s control; couldn’t leave without permission • Feasts & holidays of the church provided rest & contact with Church

39. Role of the Church • Powerful institution • Religious and political power • Structure (hierarchy) – Church officials – clergy • Pope, Bishops, Priests • Unifying force during M.A. – security, belonging, hope; center stage in people’s lives • Sacraments important – baptism, communion, confession, confirmation, marriage vows; lots of religious holidays

40. Church cont. • Church law called canon law • Also established courts to protect canon law • Could use excommunication (banishment) • Interdict – sacraments would not be allowed

42. Church cont. • Holy Roman Empire created – strong state in central Europe; German princes/principalities • Germany and northern Italy (p.372) • Clash over “lay investiture” – practice where kings/nobles appointed church officials • Religious conflict over this • Concordat of Worms (city) – Church could appoint bishop, but emperor could veto • Settles differences between Church and Holy Roman Empire

43. Church cont. • Frederick the Great “Barbarossa” – first emperor to call lands Holy Roman Empire • Mostly Germany and Northern Italy • Invaded rich cities of Italy • Finally defeated – Italian foot soldiers used crossbows to defeat feudal knights • After death, Germany remains divided into feudal kingdoms (until 1870’s!)

44. The Age of Faith • Problems in the Church: • Illiterate priests, questionable morals, cared about role as feudal lords, married with families (against Church), sold positions within Church (simony), lay investiture (King appoints Bishops) • Secular (worldly, non-religious) interests

45. Age of Faith cont. • Reform by Popes (Leo IX and Gregory VII) • Enforced laws, created canon law, group of advisers called the papal (Pope) curia, collected tithes • New religious orders – Dominicans, Benedictines, Franciscans • Friars (who traveled spreading ideas of Church)

46. Faith cont. • Cathedrals – originally built in the Romanesque style (round arches, heavy roofs, walls, pillars • Change to Gothic – Reached upward towards heaven – more and more light • Spires, arches, stained glass windows (p. 381) • Notre Dame (Paris)