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Medieval Times. Dark Ages: 476 – 1050 CE Small independent kingdoms spring up in Italy, Gaul, Spain, Germany and Britain. High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1300 CE Europe faces challenges and changes to the established order of society. . The Spread of Christianity.
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Medieval Times • Dark Ages: 476 – 1050 CE • Small independent kingdoms spring up in Italy, Gaul, Spain, Germany and Britain. • High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1300 CE • Europe faces challenges and changes to the established order of society.
The Spread of Christianity • Missionary monks bring Christianity to pagans in northern and eastern Europe between 400 and 1100 CE • “Age of Faith” • Church becomes more powerful than kings or nobles • Own government, laws, courts, and tax system • Missionaries • St. Patrick – Ireland 432 • St. Augustine – England 597 • St. Boniface – Germany 601
The Medieval Church • Church and State • Political influence • Priests in remote villages • Education in Latin • Charlemagne • Villagers • Tithes = Church Taxes • 1/10 of a person’s income • Church owns more land than any noble or monarch • Parish – Diocese • Archbishop – Cardinal – Pope
Feudalism • Landlord and Serf • Obligations of military service and custom • Obligations of land and labour • Variations of social structure • Strict roles and limited social mobility
Rotating Agriculture Lord’s Manor House Village Mill and Barns Church and Parsonage • Land Allocation • Lord’s • Priest’s • Peasant’s
Medieval Manor Life • Administered by a single lord or knight • Feudal life revolved around the manor • Typically about 400ha • Self-sufficient, rural • Blacksmith, Miller • Bailiff or Steward employed to advise Lord and supervise serfs • Manor Court • Harsh life for farmers • one or two room home • Mud and thatched straw roof • Sunday and holy days observed
The Magna Carta • “Great Charter” – 1215 C.E. • Listed rights of nobles and the king’s responsibilities and privileges in governing • Could not set new taxes without consulting Great Council (made up of Lords and clergy) • King had to obey laws like subjects did • Rights of common people and church recognized • Rights granted to nobles were extended to all citizens over time King John 1199-1216
Medieval Education • Learning of Classical Greece and Rome lost in the Dark Ages • No schools (few within the church) • Most people illiterate • Charlemagne’s impact • Universities – 12th C. • Guilds for trades
The Late Middle AgesA.D. 1300 - 1520 A period of decline... • Decline of Monarchy • Rise of Nobles • Decline of the Papacy & Christendom of Western Europe • due to Crusades & Schisms • Decline of Feudalism • Due to Plague & Rise of Peasant/Merchant Class
Decline of the Monarchy • Nobility dissatisfied with centralization of power forced King John to sign the Magna Carta 1215 • Limited the monarchs power, needed popular support from nobility to rule • The idea of representation came at the end of the High Middle Ages as kingdoms grew
The Plague - Effects • By A.D. 1400 the Plague had reduced the population of Europe by 1/3 • Cities were abandoned • No one left to trade goods • No one left to till the land • Result: Economic depression • It took 150 years to recover economically
The Decline of the Church • As the middle ages drew to a close the Church declined in power & influence • The Church and State came into conflict again as monarchies became too powerful • Public discontent with Pope and churchmen who placed wealth and power above spiritual matters
The Decline of Feudalism • 14th Century = Capitalism, the Black Plague and the 100 Years War all created a rich middle class & increased the use of money • The use of money forever changed the class structure • By the 15th Century Feudalism had largely passed
Rise of the Modern Era • Relationship changed from loyalty & service linked by the land to relationships based on money • Middle Class questioned the class structure of feudalism = nobility & monarch’s power declined • Serfdom was ending as peasants were buying their freedom with money • Rise of money & middle class meant we were leaving feudalism & entering the modern age RENAISSANCE