Rise and Fall of European Kingdoms: From Franks to Feudalism

1. Chapter 8 Middle Ages

2. After the Fall of Rome - 476 • Europe – a frontier • Little population • Large underdeveloped areas • Dense forests • Great soil & resources from the sea • Long rivers for trade routes

3. Germanic Tribes • Made up of farmers & herders • No cities- lived in small communities • No written laws – unwritten customs- social conventions carried on by traditions • Ruled by elected warrior kings

4. Germanic Tribes 400-700 • Carved up Europe in to small kingdoms • The Franks were the strongest

5. FRANKISH KINGDOM • 481 – Clovisbecomes king of the Franks • He is ruthless & cunning • Gained control of Gaul (France) • Converted to Christianity along with his warriors- gains support of people & Roman Catholic Church

6. 511 Clovis dies • Kingdom divided among his 4 sons- DoNothing Kings (hunt, drink etc.) • Real power became the Mayor of the Palace

7. Charles “the Hammer” Martel • 622 – Muslims – followers of Islam- gained control of Spain started into France • 732 – Battle of Tours – Charles “the Hammer” Martel – defeats the Muslims

8. Charles Martel • Starts the Carolingian Dynasty • 751- Pepin the Short– son of Charles elected King of the Franks • He is approved (anointed) by the pope • Close ties between Church & Frankish kings • Pope Stephen IIasks for help from Lombards – Papal States

10. Charlemagne – 768 to 814 • Unites the empire that stretched from France to Germany to Italy • Most of the old Western Roman Empire • Greatest political figure for a 1,000 years

11. Charlemagne • Ruled for 46 years – most of it at war – 53 military campaigns • Becomes the “strong right arm of God”—those who would not convert put to the sword • 12/25/800 – Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans – important unites Christian community in Western Europe

12. Charlemagne • Built a capital at Aachen • Appointed powerful nobles to rule regions of empire • Missi dominici– spies • Encouraged missionaries • Encouraged church to educate clergy • Encouraged education throughout empire – appoints Alcuinto create a curriculum (Latin Education)

13. Charlemagne • Encouraged the payment of tithes to the Church—10% • Development of Carolingian minuscule

15. Charlemagne Legacy • 814 – Charlemagne dies – son Louisthe Pioustakes over – ineffective ruler • Three sons will fight over land • Treaty of Verdun- 843 • Louis the German– Germany • Charles the Bald– France • Lothar – title emperor & land between brothers

17. Invaders Move into Western Europe • The Muslims – late 800s conquered Sicily • Magyars – From Asia over ran eastern Europe - settled in Hungary

18. The Vikings • Came from Scandinavia • Excellent sailors & fighters

19. Vikings • Traveled the rivers of Europe in their long boats (Dragon Ships) • Loot & burn cities from Ireland to Russia • Leif Erikson – around 1000 sets up a colony in North America • Also traders – some settle in France, England & Ireland – become Christians

21. Age of Feudalism • Started in the 8th & 9th centuries • Political system where kings & powerful nobles grant land to lesser nobles called vassals – in return for loyalty, military assistance & services • Oldest son inherits the fief - younger sons join church or becomes a knight for hire

23. Feudalism • Came about because no strong central government • Lords granted vassals a fief or estate • Both lord & vassal had certain obligations – Feudal Contract • Lord – protection & justice • Vassal – military service & financial obligations

24. Feudal warfare • Knights – mounted warriors • Trained from boyhood • Age 7 sent to his lord – learned to ride & fight – keep armor & weapons of knight in good condition • Teen years – squire – knights assistant • About 21 ready to become a knight

25. Feudal warfare • Most battles small ( few hundred to couple 1000 knights) • Hand to Hand combat typical few killed – captured & held for ransom • Complicated because a vassal could owe loyalty to more than one lord

26. Feudal warfare • As warfare decreased – Tournaments – mock battles to show off skills

29. Castles • Fortified homes of the lords surrounded by a moat

30. Castles • Castles unpleasant place to live • Siege of a Castle very bloody

31. Women in the age of Feudalism • Noblewomen – could inherit fief but couldn’t rule it • Marriage arranged – dowry provided by father • Main duty to raise family & supervise household • Girls learned practical skills – spinning etc..

32. Eleanor of Aquitaine • Married to 2 kings – Louis VII of France & Henry II of England • Mother to a king – Richard the Lion Hearted of England

33. Chivalry • 11th century – code of conduct for knight to follow • Fight bravely for 3 masters – feudal lord, heavenly lord, chosen lady • Loyalty to your masters • Fight fairly • Protect & defend noblewomen • True to your word

34. Chivalry • Noblewomen held in high regard • Troubadours helped to elevate women with poems and songs

35. Chivalry • Disgraced Knight • Armor stripped off • Shield cracked • Sword broken over his head • Spurs cut off • Thrown into a coffin and dragged to a church

36. Feudal Justice • Lords provided justice for both vassals & peasants • 2 courts one for peasants – one for vassals • Each tried by his peers • A bailiff presided over the manor court

37. Feudal Justice • Nobles – Trial by combat • Peasants –Trial by ordeal

38. Manorial System • New economic system - tied to feudalism – the manor • Included manor house (demesne), pastures, a mill, church, fields & a village of a few dozen 1 room huts • Large fiefs had several manors where bailiff managed smaller estates

39. Manorial System • Manors tried to be self-sufficient – produced everything they need except salt, iron or millstones • Serfs – peasants – tied to the land but not slaves • Paid the lord to farm the land – labor, crops, animals, eggs, etc. • Received housing, land & food

41. Medieval Church • After the fall of Rome – Christian church split into eastern & western churches • Western church headed by pope – became known as Roman Catholic Church • Became very powerful force not only spiritual but also secular (worldly)

42. Medieval Church • Pope claims power over all secular rulers • Many high ranking church officials were also feudal lords • Church had absolute power over religious life of Christians

43. Medieval Church • Church had its own laws – Canon law– as well as own courts • Anyone who refused to obey church law faced excommunication • Powerful nobles could face an interdict

44. Medieval Church • Local parish priests – held mass, cared for sick, aided poor etc. • Most were commoners • Church served as social centers of villages & towns

45. Medieval Church • Church taught that men & women equal before God but women on earth were inferior • Weak & easily led to sin – Eve • They must be modest & pure--Mary • Women punished more severely for their transgressions

46. Monasticism • Some men & women withdrew from worldly life • Men – monks & women – nuns lived in monasteries headed by an abbot or an abbess

47. Monasticism • Benedict – established a monastery in Italy • Created a set of rules for monks to live by – spreads to other monasteries • Vow of poverty • Vow of chastity • Obedience to abbot & word of God • Manual labor

48. Monasticism • Monasteries & convents provided basic social services to people • Tending the sick • Giving alms to the poor • Setting up schools • Lodging for travelers

49. Monasticism • Some monks & nuns risk their lives to spread the word of God • St. Patrick– Celtic of Ireland • St. Augustine– Angles & Saxons of England • St. Boniface– Germanic tribes