MEDIEVAL AGES (500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)

1. MEDIEVAL AGES (500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)

3. 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

4. …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.

6. Where did the Middle Ages begin?

7. Who helped to create the Middle Ages?

8. Frankish leaders

9. Clovis • Around 481 a.d. • No conscience, brutal, violent and cruel • Supported Christianity • Name of the “Franks”

10. Pepin II • Around 700 a.d. • “Mayor of the Palace” • Created hereditary leadership for medieval world

11. Charles Martel • Known as “the Hammer” • Around 732 a.d. • Stopped Muslim advance into Western Europe • Removed threat of Islamic ideas in Christian lands

12. 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

13. 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)

15. 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)

16. …government continued… • 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

17. 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

18. …education continued… • Christianity based • Convert to Frankish and Christian ways - accept baptism in Christianity - or be executed

20. 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.

21. 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…

22. VIKINGS

23. Who were the Vikings? • 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.

24. 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”

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. Feudalism

29. Characteristics of feudalism… • 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

30. Medieval society… • Monarch – total control and influence, top of feudal system • 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

31. FEUDAL SYSTEM

35. Feudalism continued– • Honorable relationship between legal equals • Personal loyalties and obligations • Feudal justice – trial by battle, oath taking and ordeals

38. DESCRIPTION OF FEUDALISM pp. 186 – 190 READ, READ, READ

39. Manorialism

40. Characteristics of manorialism… • Economic system closely connected to feudalism • 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”

44. Manorialism continued… • The castle (or manor house) was the main feature of the “manor system” • Wide-spread trade was unknown, so self-sufficiency was necessary