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Middle Ages

Middle Ages. Chapter 8.1-2. Pope Gregory the Great. Lombards attacking from North 600 AD: Invaders swept across Europe Towns emptied, trade stopped, learning ceased. Early Middle Ages. 500-1000 AD Europe relatively backward region Cut off from advanced civilizations in ME, China, India

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Middle Ages

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  1. Middle Ages Chapter 8.1-2

  2. Pope Gregory the Great • Lombards attacking from North • 600 AD: Invaders swept across Europe • Towns emptied, trade stopped, learning ceased

  3. Early Middle Ages • 500-1000 AD • Europe relatively backward region • Cut off from advanced civilizations in ME, China, India • Slowly, new Europe emerged • Greco-Roman, Germanic, Christian traditions • Called “medieval civilization” from Latin “middle age”

  4. Geography • Europe: small continent • Huge impact on modern world • 500-1000: Frontier land- sparsely populated, undeveloped area on outskirts of civilization • Dense forests • Rich earth for farming • Mineral resources • Fishing • Rivers

  5. Germanic Kingdoms • Farmers and herders • No cities, written laws • Lived in small communities • Unwritten customs • Elected kings who sent them into war

  6. The Franks • 400-700 • Germanic tribes carved W Europe into kingdoms • Strongest • Clovis conquered former Roman province of Gaul • Frankish customs • Converted to Christianity

  7. Europe and Muslims • New power in Mediterranean • Religion of Islam • Arabia: 622 AD • Built huge empire • Overran Christian lands from Palestine to North Africa to Spain • Battle of Tours: 722 • Christian Frankish warriors rallied to defend France • Won battle • Muslims source of anxiety- viewed with hostility • In time would learn from Muslims- their education exceeded Europeans

  8. Charlemagne • 800 AD • Grandson of Charles Martel • Built empire from France, Germany and part of Italy • AKA Charles the Great • Loved battle • Spent most of 46-year reign fighting • Muslims in Spain, Saxons in north, Avars and Slavs in east, Lombars in Italy • Reunited much of old Roman empire

  9. Christian Emperor • 800 • Pope Leo III called for Charlemagne to help with rebellious nobles in Rome • Frankish armies crushed rebellion • Christmas day: pope showed gratitude by placing crown on Charlemagne’s head • Emperor of Romans • Significance: Christian pope crowned a German king successor to roman emperors • Laid groundwork for power struggle between Roman Catholic popes and German emperors • Outraged Eastern Roman emperor • Widened split between east and west

  10. Spread of Christianity • Charlemagne worked with Church to spread Christianity to conquered people • Appointed powerful nobles to rule regions • Gave them land • Officials called missi dominici to check on rulers

  11. Learning • Wanted “second Rome” • Revived Latin learning • Learning was in decline • Rare if a person could read or write • Charlemagne could only read, but not write • Need for keeping accurate records • School at Aachen • Curriculum- formal course of study

  12. After Charlemagne • Died 814 • Empire fell apart • Heirs battled for power • 843: Treaty of Verdun- split empire into 3 regions • Legacy: • Extended Christian civilization • Blended German, Roman, Christian traditions • Strong efficient government • Became example for later rulers

  13. More Invasion • Muslims still posed threat • Conquered Sicily • 900: Struggle in Middle East refocused attention of Muslims • 896: Maygars settled Hungary • Overran E Europe , Germany, France and Italy • After 50 years, driven back to Hungary

  14. Vikings • Came from Scandinavia • 900s: looted and burned communities along coasts and rivers in Europe • Traders and explorers • Opened trade routes • 1000: Leif Erikson set up colony in N America

  15. Vow • Count William inherited rich land of Flanders • Nobles gathered to pledge loyalty to new lord • Knelt before him and took an oath of loyalty • Count touched them with small rod • Granted noble a parcel of land including towns, castles and people • Ceremonies like this took place across Europe during Middle Ages • Vows were part of political and social system

  16. Feudalism • People needed protection from invasion • New system evolved • Feudalism: loosely organized system of rule in which powerful local lords divided landholdings among lesser lords called vassals • Feudal Contract: Lord granted vassal a fief (estate) • Ranged from a few acres to hundreds of square miles • Included land, peasants to work the land, and any towns or buildings • Lord promised to protect vassal • Vassal promised to be loyal

  17. Structure • Everyone had a place in feudal society • Monarch—powerful lords—dukes and counts—vassals—vassals—peasants • One man could be vassal and lord—vassal to a more powerful lord above him, and lord to a less powerful vassal below him • Some vassals had fiefs from more than one lord—could be problematic • To solve, often would have a liege lord-1st loyalty

  18. World of Nobles • Warfare was way of life • Rival lords battled constantly • Nobles boys trained for future occupation as a knight—mounted warrior.

  19. Knighthood • 7 years old: sent away to castle of father’s lord • Learned to: • ride and fight • keep armor and weapons in good condition • When training was finished, became a knight • Knelt before elder knight, bowed head • Knight struck young man with hand or flat side of sword and dubbed him a knight • Feudal warfare decreased in 1100s • Tournaments (mock battles) came into fashion • Lord would invite all knights from area to enter contests of fighting skill • As dangerous as real battles

  20. Castles • Powerful lords fortified homes to withstand attack • Wooden tower, ringed by fence, surrounded by moat • Gradually became larger, grander • Wars centered on taking castles • Attackers would starve defenders or tunnel under walls

  21. Noblewomen • Active role in society • Lady of the manor took over husband’s duties • Supervised vassals, managed house, performed ag, medical tasks, sometimes went to war • Land passed to elder son • Daughters sent for training • Spinning, weaving, supervise servants, read and write

  22. Chivalry • Knights adopted code of conduct • Called chivalry • Required bravery, loyalty, true to word • Fight fairly in war • No attacking until both sides had armor on • Release captured knight on his promise to pay his ransom • Women protected, cherished • Troubadours- wandering poets • Love songs praised women • Shaped Western ideas of romantic love

  23. Peasants • Manor: lord’s estate • Included one or more villages and surrounding lands • Peasants made up majority of pop, lived and worked on manor • Most were serfs: • Slaves that could not be bought and sold, but not free, couldn’t leave • Work: farming, repair roads, bridges, fences • Paid a fee to lord to marry, inherit acres or use mill • Payments due at Christmas, Easter • Grain, honey, eggs, chickens Benefits • Right to farm acres for themselves • Protection from warfare • Guaranteed food, housing, land

  24. Self-Sufficient • Manor was self-sufficient • Peasants produced almost everything they needed • No schooling, knowledge of outside world • Harsh life, long hours • Black bread, vegetables (seldom ate meat) • Poached at risk of punishment • Family and any animals they had slept together • Disease took toll- few lived beyond 35 • Celebrated festivals, marriages, dancing, sports

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