Early Middle Ages

1. Early Middle Ages Unit III Review

2. Unit Summary With the fall of the Roman Empire, Western Europe entered an era of instability and uncertainty. This unit explores the ways in which the Catholic Church and a distinct feudal system provided a measure of economic and social stability to Western Europe. While often referred to as “the dark ages,” the latter half of this period saw developments in architecture and technology which had a profound impact on the emergence of European nation states.

3. Enduring Understandings • Religion can and does influence history. • Architecture reflects the values and needs of any society. • Groups of people will create societal systems in the absence of organized government.

4. Merovingian Dynasty • Clovis: 481-511 • Founder of the Merovingian dynasty • Clovis converted to Christianity and became Roman Catholic at a time when the other Germanic rulers belonged to a rival Christian sect • Strengthened Catholicism • After the death of Clovis, weak Merovingian rulers turned over more and more power to mayors of the palace

5. Carolingian Dynasty • Charles Martel, 714-741 • Mayor of the palace but exercised the powers of a king • Organized an efficient cavalry to defeat the Moslem invaders at Tours in 732 (furthest advance of the Moslem forces) • Pepin the Short, 741-768 • Became King of the Franks in 752 when the Church supported his claim • The Church needed Pepin to lead his army to Italy and defeat the Lombards • Donation of Pepin (gave the Pope power over the Papal States)

6. Carolingian Dynasty • Charlemagne, 768-814 • Conquered an empire that stretched from Spain in the west to central Europe in the east • Goal: unite all Germanic tribes into a single Christian kingdom • Became King of the Lombards • 800, Pope Leo crowned Charlemagne “Emperor of the Romans” • Carolingian Renaissance

7. Treaty of Verdun and Invasion • Charlemagne’s empire was divided into three kingdoms ruled by his three grandsons (internal wars) • In the 9th century, Western Europe faced a series of raids from Vikings, Moslems, and Magyars • Disruption of trade • Downfall of cities • Population shifts—nobles retreated to rural areas

8. Feudalism Political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land Created because there was a need for protection against attacks System of mutual obligation

9. Feudalism Power basis: land Mutual obligations Vassals paid homage to lords Entangling alliances—remember the vassal’s pledge Hierarchical structure

10. Manorialism • An economic system revolved around land use, where peasants and serfs farm the land to provide for their superiors. In exchange, serfs receive protection. • Self-sufficient • 3 field system • Role of the Church on the manor • Serfs accepted their lives as part of the Church’s teachings—the focus was on life after death

11. Chivalry • Code of behavior for knights that stressed courage in battle, loyalty, and courteousness (this was the ideal, not typically the reality) • Tournaments • Literature of chivalry • The Song of Roland

12. Women’s Role in Feudal Society • Noblewomen • Rights to inherit an estate from her husband • When her husband was fighting, she could act as military commander and warrior • Peasant women • Women were thought to be inferior to men

13. The Church • Hierarchical structure • Religion as a unifying force • Lay investiture controversy • Concordat of Worms • THE CHURCH WAS CENTRAL TO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED DURING THE MIDDLE AGES!