THE RISE OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE

1. THE RISE OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE Backward period of time for Europe. Life for people existed mostly in their villages, trade decline, money would be worthless. Once called the “Dark Ages” would become known as Medieval. This period is a transition between ancient & modern times.

2. FRANKISH RULERS • Invasions of Germanic Tribes throughout what was left of the Roman Empire would lead Western Europe into the Middle Ages (approx. 700 A.D. to 1300 A.D) • Frankish rulers were the first & strongest group to rule Western Europe during this time period.

3. FRANKISH RULERS • Clovis: a brutal & willy ruler. 1st to accept Catholicism. Followed a custom of giving parts of kingdom to heirs who eventually fought amongst themselves. Power would not be held by king but by mayors of the palace.

4. FRANKISH RULERS • Charles Martel: Also known as “Charles the Hammer”. Led a successful victory against Muslims in Battle of Tours, France

5. FRANKISH RULERS • Pepin the Short: Charles’ son. Received support from Pope making him a divinely appointed ruler. In return, he had to assist Pope in getting rid of his enemies (Lombards). This act bounded the idea of church & state (Western Europe & Catholicism) more closely together.

6. FRANKISH RULERS - CHARLEMAGNE • Best of all Frankish Rulers • Enlarged Frankish empire to include Germany, France, Northern Spain, & most of Italy • Lands would be united under one central government • Encouraged schooling which helped to preserve classical learning

7. FRANKISH RULERS - CHARLEMAGNE • Protected the church against Roman nobles. Received title of Roman Emperor. Misgivings about title as it presented the idea that church officials were superior to rulers. • Counts assisted him in ruling new empire and maintaining the religious forum that he was now emperor over Statue of Charlemagne in Paris, France

8. FRANKISH RULERS - DECLINE • Louis, Charlemagne’s son, could not maintain control. At his death, Charlemagne’s grandsons fought for control dividing Carolingian kingdom into three areas: West – Charles the Bald; East – Louis the German (Germany); Middle – Lothair who became Roman Emperor (North Sea to Italy)

9. VIKINGS • The Vikings (fight as a warrior) began to invade the Carolingian kingdoms that Charlemagne had built • These invasions weakened trade, the economy, the central authority of the monarchs, & created an unstable environment politically Viking shield on display in London at the British Museum

10. Viking ship on display in Oslo, Norway

11. VIKINGS • Vikings engaged in trade & exploration settling in Greenland, Iceland, & North America’s shores (Nova Scotia) • Vikings were polytheistic. • Vikings writings included poems about deities & sagas which were told by story tellers. All written down after 1100 A.D. • Vikings continuous attacks weakened European monarchy causing nobles & local officials to bring in a new political & social system

12. MEDIEVAL LIFE • Feudalism is the political system that would come to exist. A highly decentralized form of government that stressed alliances of mutual protection between monarchs & nobles of varying degrees of power. • System began with Charles Martel who needed a cavalry to fight Muslims. He gave out fiefs to warriors with peasants to help gain income needed to create cavalry. • Nobles assumed powers of king: raising armies, dispensing justice, minting coins & gave oath of loyalty & military service (knights) to king

13. MEDIEVAL LIFE – FEUDAL RELATIONSHIP

14. MEDIEVAL LIFE • Homage is the ceremony between a lord & vassal. • Obligations: knights for military service, serve in lord’s court, provide food & lodging for lord, contribute funds for lord’s son’s knighthood or daughter’s marriage, & pay ransom when lord was captured. • Castles built to serve as a defense against enemies – NOT comfort. Built out of wood then stone. Moats assisted in protecting castle. Keep is the strongest part of castle containing: a hall, dungeon, armory. Bailey is the large open area containing other buildings serving a variety of purposes.

15. MEDIEVAL LIFE • Nobility consists of lords, ladies, & knights. • A lady had few if any rights & could be married as early as 12 yrs. Primary duties: taking care of household & rearing children. Engaged in needlework & making medicines. Some ran estate when lord was fighting. • Entertainment for nobles came in the form of tournaments between knights. They also engaged in hunting &, along with ladies, falconry & archery.

16. Tournaments of Knights Falconry Archery

17. MEDIEVAL LIFE • Noble’s son began learning to be a knight at 7 yrs as a page where he learned manners & use of weapons. At 15 yrs became a squire assisting knight & practice with weapons. Squire would be knighted after proving himself in battle. • Knight’s behavior governed by code of chivalry: bravery, fairness, keep promises/oath, defend Church, & treat Noble women in a courteous manner.

18. MEDIEVAL LIFE • Manorialism is the new social/economic system between nobles & peasants. This system is mostly an agricultural production system. • Lords provided protection in exchange for peasants. Most peasants were serfs bound to the manor. Serfs are not slaves that they could be “sold” • Improvements in agriculture increased food production: heavier plow with mould board, use of a 3-field system, & rotation of crops. • Peasant life is characterized by poverty, hardship, famine, & disease. Peasants were allowed to relax on Sundays & holy days.

19. MEDIEVAL CHURCH • Catholic church was dominant in Western Europe. Pope exercised both political & religious duties. • Religious Role: all people were sinners, dependent on god’s grace that would only be received by sacraments. Most important sacrament: Eucharist (holy communion). • People had limited understanding of Church rituals due to lack of education & masses being said in Latin. Most learned from statues, paintings, & stained glass windows.

20. MEDIEVAL CHURCH - HIERARCHY

21. MEDIEVAL CHURCH • Monks & nuns would live in seclusion. Monks led by an abbot, nuns led by an abbess. • Monastery life is governed by rules developed by Benedict: manual work, meditation, & prayer. Benedictine rule: could not own goods, never marry, bound to obey monastic laws. Life consisted of obedience & chastity. • Monks wore a long robe of coarse material tied at the waist by a cord. Nuns wore simple clothes & wrapped a white cloth called a wimple around their face & neck

22. MEDIEVAL CHURCH • Monks engaged in silence either for most of the day or all day. • Nuns engaged in spinning, weaving, embroidering tapestries, & making medicines out of herbs in addition to prayer. • Monks & nuns lived apart from society but engaged in: preserving religious & classical writings, providing schooling for children, hospital work, providing food for needy, lodging for travelers, & serving as missionaries.

23. MEDIEVAL CHURCH • Catholic Church assisted in the governing of Western Europe by “bribing” individuals through the giving of land & performing acts of piety for nobles & knights • Catholic Church also exerted its power through its own laws & courts dealing with clergy, doctrine, marriage, & morals.

24. MEDIEVAL CHURCH - REFORMS • Reforms started in monasteries leading the way by changing their ways & setting the example. • Friars served aided towns throughout Europe in reform effort preaching Christianity. Franciscans & Dominicans are our best-known friars. • Catholic Church freed itself from control of feudal lords by the electing of their own Pope and then having the Pope appoint cardinals and other church officials.

25. MEDIEVAL CHURCH - REFORMS • Pope Gregory VII criticized practice of lay investiture and encouraged the Church to get rid of it. • Pope Innocent III condemned drunkenness, feasting, & dancing among clergy.

26. MEDIEVAL CHURCH - REFORMS • Council of Catholic Church created strict rules in dealing with heresy. • Excommunication was the punishment given to heretics who refused to change. • The Inquisition was the court set up to deal with heretics. • Heretics were encouraged to confess & ask forgiveness. Some were accused without sufficient proof & torture would be used to get a confession.

27. MEDIEVAL CHURCH - JEWS • As Catholic Church’s power increased, Jews would be seen as outsiders & a threat to society. Jews would be blamed for plagues, famines, disease, & other social problems. Anti-Semitism would be influenced more due to Christian doctrine. Some cities forced Jews to wear badges, live in ghettos, give up land, or be expelled.

28. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND • King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) of the Anglo-Saxons conquered the Danes & formed the country of England • Alfred founded schools, hired scholars to translate books from Latin to Anglo-Saxon & to write history of England (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle)

29. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND • William, the Duke of Normandy, claimed the throne after Alfred’s death by defeating Godwinson who had been chosen by Anglo-Saxons to rule England. • Gave out lands in return for military service & oath of loyalty. He would set up a council of nobles to advise him & collect taxes. Initiated first census in Western Europe since Roman times.

30. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND • Henry I created a royal exchequer (royal treasury) to collect taxes & gave courts greater authority. • Henry II set up a system of common law, used traveling judges, set up both a grand jury (issued charges for crimes), & a petit jury (determined guilt or innocence). At height of his power he ruled parts of France.

31. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND • John lost land to France, increased taxes, & punished enemies without trial. Nobles forced him to sign Magna Carta (Greater Charter) which placed limits on royal power. This charter would eventually be used to guarantee rights to all English people.

32. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND • Henry III had an increase in population leading to the development of a middle class. Added knights & burgesses to Great Council (Parliament) • Edward I called Model Parliament into session that became more representative towards people. Asked them to advise him on business matters, to submit petitions to him, & meet frequently. Parliament would then divide into two chambers: House of Lords (nobles & clergy); House of Commons (knights & burgesses)

33. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - ENGLAND Henry III Edward I Parliament, London, England

34. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - FRANCE • Hugh Capet seized throne & controlled Paris. • Capetian dynasty lasted more than 300 years & set up the principle of eldest son inheriting the throne • Capetians strengthened power of monarch & brought feudal lords under control by giving townspeople & clergy appointments in Court of Advisers & granting the towns the right to self-govern

35. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - FRANCE • Philip II (Philip Augustus) ruled 43 years, doubled territory through marriage & recapturing land from England. He furthered weakened feudal lords by appointing local officials loyal to king & forming a semi-permanent army.

36. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - FRANCE • Louis IX made royal courts dominant over feudal courts, only king could mint coins, banned private warfare & banned bearing of arms. Louis was regarded as a man of high moral character & chivalrous.

37. EUROPEAN MONARCHY - FRANCE • Philip IV (Philip the Fair) engaged in wars to gain more territory, raised taxes, & taxed clergy. Summoned Estates-General – assembly of nobles, clergy, & townspeople – to raise taxes on a national level

38. EUROPEAN MONARCHY – HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE • Otto I (Otto the Great) attempted to restore Charlemagne’s empire. He assisted Pope John XII against Roman nobles & received title: Holy Roman Emperor. He & his successors intervened in the election of popes & bishops leading to centuries of dispute.

39. EUROPEAN MONARCHY – HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE • Henry IV & Pope Gregory VII quarreled over lay investiture • Continued quarreling over who had the right to appoint pope & church officials led to the Concordat of Worms which allowed emperor to name bishops & pope right to reject unworthy candidates