THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

1. THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES HISTORIC OVERVIEW

2. MIDDLE AGES FOLLOW ROME • Middle Ages is the name given to 1000 years of European (from Europe) history • Also called Medieval times– from Latin words meaning, “middle” and “age”

3. Roman Empire at Peak

4. TIMELINE • Began after Fall of Rome • Lasted till Renaissance (Rebirth) • From about 476 to about 1500 • Early Middle Ages about 350 - 1050

5. TIMELINE • 1CE - JESUS • GERMANIC INVASIONS • 476 - END OF ROME • BEGINNING OF MIDDLE AGES • 600 KING ARTHUR • 800 – CHARLEMAGNE – FEUDALISM • 1000 – VIKINGS • 1100 – CRUSADES • GROWTH OF TOWNS • 1300 BLACK DEATH • 1500 – RENAISSANCE – AGE OF DISCOVERY • 2000 – PRESENT TIMES

6. WEST’S GRADUAL TRANSITION INTO MIDDLE AGES • Period after the fall of Rome called Early Middle Ages • Period of war, confusion and chaos

7. THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES • Germanic tribes, such as Vandals, Huns and Goths began first living in and then attacking Roman cities. • In 476 a Visigoth chief replaced the last Roman Emperor.

8. “DARK AGES” • Several centuries of war and unrest followed • Often called “Dark Ages” – derogatory term • Germanic tribes spread across southern and Western Europe • Gradually settled down into stable kingdoms

9. NEW KINGDOMS • The Holy Roman Empire replaced the Roman Empire of the Ancient world • Power Struggles between Popes and Kings resulted – both wanted to rule

10. KINGDOM OF THE FRANKS • The nomadic northern tribesmen gradually settled down into kingdoms • The Franks were greatest of these kingdoms • Charlemagne was king of the Franks.  

11. HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE • In 800 CE Charlemagne was crowned emperor by the pope. • In 936 Otto, his successor, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

12. POWER STRUGGLES • Both Popes, spiritual leaders, as well as Holy Roman Emperors and kings wanted power • Popes had great political power as well as religious authority • Church owned vast lands in Italy.  

13. POWER GIVEN BY GOD • Both popes and kings believed they got their authority from God • Hard for anyone to argue with that! • Popes crowned kings and gave them the right to rule.

14. GREGORY AND HENRY • Pope Gregory excommunicated Emperor Henry IV • Henry wanted to choose the Bishop of Milan • Pope Gregory did not want him to have that power, wanted the church to have all power over clergy

15. EXCOMMUNICATION • Gregory excommunicated Henry • Excommunication was a really bad thing • It meant the king no longer had authority to rule • It also meant when he died he would go to hell, eternal damnation

16. POWER STRUGGLES • Henry apologized by standing barefoot in the snow for three days outside the Pope’s palace • Pope Gregory forgave him • Finally, war erupted and ended with a compromise • Kings had small role – Popes main role

17. LEARNING KEPT ALIVE Most people were illiterate. Monks kept learning alive in monasteries

19. THE AGE OF FAITH • Unlike today almost everybody in Medieval Europe was deeply religious • Called ‘The Age of Faith • No freedom of religion • Unbelievers were called heretics and often executed

20. 2 RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES • Western Europe – Pope in Rome was leader – Roman Catholic • Eastern Europe – Patriarch in Constantinople was leader – Greek Orthodox

22. MOORISH SPAIN • Spain was the exception, ruled mainly by Islamic Moors • More tolerant – allowed Jews freedom of religion – till 1492 when Inquisition • Court expelled Jews and Spain became Christian.

24. JEWS IN EUROPE • A few Jews did live in Europe • There were many restrictions and uncertainties intheir status • Frequently had to pack and leave

25. THE MONASTIC WORLD • The Germanic tribes lacked learning • Christian Church saved knowledge • Preserved philosophy, literature and science of the Ancient World • Would have been lost without Church

27. LITERATE PRIESTS • Priests had to learn reading and writing in order to read the Bible and pass on religious knowledge • Scholarship continued in monasteries, religious communities of monks or nuns

28. LIBRARIES SAVED • The books of the Ancient World were preserved in libraries and copied by hand • Monasteries were quiet and peaceful and learning thrived.

29. LATIN AND GREEK • Priests had to know Latin or Greek to do their work in addition to their own language. Thus these two languages were preserved. • Latin was the language of all learned people • Even kings could not read or write and had to employ priests (clerics) to write letters, record laws and maintain accounts

30. FEUDALISM • The king owned all the land. • The king (the liege lord) would give chunks of land (called fiefs) to favored lords • The lords then became his vassals.

31. MILITARY SERVICE FOR PROTECTION • In return lords had to give the king military service and perhaps other services when the king wanted it. • The king would protect the lord and help with disputes

32. DOWN THE FEUDAL LADDER • In turn the powerful lords did the same with their land. • They gave fiefs to lesser lords who in turn owed them loyalty and military service

33. FEUDALISM PYRAMID Emperor Major Lords Kings Dukes Earls Counts Lesser Lords Barons, Knights Even Lesser Lords Humbler knights, squires, freemen Serfs and Peasants

34. MEDIEVAL SOCIETY • Not much social mobility, little changed • Position in society fixed at birth • King had most power • Nobles were next • Lowest class – serfs

35. PEASANTS AND SERFS • Peasants were farm workers • Serfs were peasants who belonged to the manor house or castle where they were born. • They were attached to the land and couldn’t move • Few legal rights.

36. TRAPPED IN YOUR GROOVE • Some few could advance by joining the church • Skill at battle could earn a knighthood  • Women had few rights • Marriages were arranged • Women were legally inferior to men.

38. THE VIKINGS • Great sailors and boat builders • Also known as Danes and Norsemen • Settled as far as Iceland and Greenland

39. LEIF ERICSSON • Believed to have sailed as far as the north coast of North America – perhaps New England • Leif Ericsson found grapes and wheat on his travels there.

40. VIKINGS EXPAND • Between 700 and 900 the Vikings terrified their neighbors • Raided and looted monasteries and settlements.

41. VIKING RAIDERS • First attacked and then settled and assimilated • Became less aggressive over time • Gradually settled permanently in Britain along the coast and in France Normandy.

42. SETTLED AND CONVERTED • Settled permanently in Britain along the coast • Settled in France in Normandy • Became Christian • Built cities – York, Limerick, Dublin

43. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR • 1066 –The Battle of Hastings • William of Normandy conquered England • Became King of Britain • Viking stories called sagas