The Middle Ages

1. The Middle Ages

2. Warm Up: What happened to Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? In the East, the Byzantine Empire became a center for trade & Greco-Roman culture

3. The Middle Ages In the West, Europe grew weak & fell into the Middle Ages from 500 to 1300 Also known as the “Dark Ages” or “Medieval” era

4. Europe After the Fall of Rome When barbarian kingdoms conquered Rome, Europe was plagued by constant warfare Warfare disrupted trade, destroyed Europe’s cities, & forced people to rural areas Learning declined; Few people could read or write Greco-Roman culture was forgotten Europe lost a common language; Latin mixed with local languages to form Spanish, French, Italian

5. Germanic Tribes in the Middle Ages Without the unity of the Roman Empire, Europe became divided into a series of Germanic kingdoms Germanic people lived in small communities led by chiefs & his loyal warriors Family ties & loyalty were more important than citizenship

6. The Spread of Christianity During this time of political chaos, the Church provided order and security. The Catholic Pope became involved in secular (non-religious) issues like road repair, aiding the poor, & helping Christian kings expand their power

7. The Spread of Christianity The Franks were the largest & most powerful of the Germanic kingdoms in the early Middle Ages By 511, Clovis, the leader of the Franks united them into one kingdom. Frankish kings allied with the Catholic Church & expanded their power

8. The Spread of Christianity By 600, the Church, with the help of Frankish rulers had converted many Germanic people to Christianity. Missionaries also spread Christianity

9. As the the church adapted to the new rural conditions of Western Europe, the Church built Monasteries – religious communities where monks live to study and serve God The Spread of Christianity • Italian monk, Benedict, wrote rules that governed monastic life • His sister Scholastica adapted the rules for nuns living in convents • Monks establish schools and preserved learning through libraries

10. Papal Power Expands Under Gregory I • In 590, Gregory I, also called Gregory the Great, becomes pope • Under Gregory, Church becomes secular—a political power • Pope’s palace becomes center of Roman government • Uses Church money to raise armies, care for poor, negotiate treaties

11. Charles Martel Emerges • Most powerful official in Frankish kingdom is “major domo”—mayor of the palace • In 719 major domo Charles Martel gained power through expansion • Defeated Muslims in Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732; becomes a Christian hero • Son, Pepin, begins Carolingian Dynasty—family that ruled the Franks from 751 to 987

12. Charlemagne Becomes Emperor In 771, Charlemagne (“Charles the Great”) became ruler of the Franks – joining Germanic power, the Church, and the heritage of the Roman Empire. At the request of the Pope, Charlemagne was crowned “Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire” in 800. His coronation signified independence from the Byzantine emperor and political and religious unity in Western Europe under the concept of Christendom.

13. Charlemagne & the Frankish Empire Charlemagne was the greatest Medieval king because he did something no other king was able to do…create an organized empire – The Holy Roman Empire (First Reich) He spread Christianity He ordered monasteries to train future priests Charlemagne expanded the Frankish empire He valued learning & built schools in his empire

14. Charlemagne & The Holy Roman Empire Just before his death in 814, Charlemagne crowned his son, Louis the Pious, emperor, but he proved ineffective. Charlemagne’s grandson’s Lothair, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German split the empire into 3 kingdoms with the Treaty of Verdun. As a result the Carolingian Kings lost power and central authority broke down leading to a new system of governing – feudalism. https://youtu.be/cTTaVnZyG2g

15. From 800 to 1000, a 2nd major wave of invasions struck Europe led by Vikings, Muslims &Magyars • Text These invasions caused widespread fear & suffering Kings could not defend against invasion People stopped looking to kings for protection

16. Vikings…”Northman, Norsemen” Set sail from Scandinavia Worshipped warlike gods & had nicknames Warriors, traders, farmers, and explorers Excellent seafarers and raided with great speed Viking explorer Leif Ericson reached North America almost 500 years before Columbus

17. Muslims and Magyars Invade Magyars - nomadic people from present day Hungary. Raided isolated villages and monasteries. Took captives to sell as slaves. Muslims attacked from the south with the plan to conquer and settle in Europe.

18. A New Social Order: Feudalism • Feudalism began when Charles the Simple, King of France granted Rollo, a Viking leader a piece of French territory, Normandy. Many similar agreements were made elsewhere. • Feudalism is based on rights and obligations • Land-owning lords offer land (fief) to knights in exchange for their loyalty & promise to protect the lord’s land Bayeaux Tapestry

19. Feudal Structure Knights were specially trained soldiers who protected the lords & peasants – vassals took an oath of fealty (loyalty) Some peasants were serfs & could not leave the lord’s estate Kings had land but very little power Lords (also called Nobles) were the upper-class landowners; they had inherited titles (“Duke,”“Earl,”“Sir”)

21. Lords built castles to protect their territory from outside invasions

22. The Manorial System During the Middle Ages, the manorial system was the way in which people survived The lord’s land was called a manor The lord provided peasants with housing, farmland, & protection In exchange, peasants repaid the lord by working his land & providing a portion of the food they produced

23. Peasant life was hard: They paid taxes to use the lord’s mill, had to get permission to get married, & life expectancy was about 35 years old. They also had to pay 1/10th (tithe) a church tax. Manors were self-sufficient communities; Everything that was needed was produced on the manor

24. The Age of ChivalryKnights: Warriors on Horseback Charles Martel observed that Muslim cavalry often helped during battle and as a result he organized Frankish troops of armored horsemen or knights. Leather saddles and stirrups changed the way warfare was conducted during the 700s. Feudal lords raised private armies of knights Knights were rewarded with fiefs from nobles/lords Knights usually participated in about 40 days of combat per year.

25. By the 1100s, the code of chivalry (a complex set of ideals) required a knight fight bravely in defense of 3 masters: feudal lord, heavenly Lord, and his chosen lady • A Knight’s Training • Age 7 – sons of nobles are sent off to a castle of another lord to serve and practice fight skills • Age 14 – reached the rank of squire: servant to a knight • Age 21 – becomes a knight – usually traveled for a year or two to gain experience • Tournaments – mock battles • https://youtu.be/zH6U5y086hw

26. Brutal Reality of Warfare - Extreme bloodshed - Defenders of the castles poured boiling water, hot oil, or molten lead on enemy soldiers. - Soldiers with crossbows, that could pierce full armor, where often stationed on the roof.

27. Literature of Chivalry • Epic Poems • Recounted a hero’s deeds and adventures • Song of Roland – earliest and most epic poems about a battle during Charlemagne’s reign • Love Poems & Songs • Under the code of chivalry, a knight’s duty to his lady was just as important as his duty to his lord – poems and songs tell of the two obligations • Troubadours- traveling poet-musicians… composed poems about the joys and sorrows of love

28. In what way does this painting show the knight’s code of chivalry?

29. Women’s Role in Feudal Society • According to the Church and feudal society, women are inferior to men • Noblewomen • Can inherit land, defend castle, send knights to war on lord’s request • Usually confined to activities of the home or convent • Peasant Women • Most labor in home and field, bear children, provide for family • Poor, powerless, do household tasks at young age

30. The Authority of The Church • Structure of the church – Power based on status • Pope in Rome headed the Church • All clergy fell under his authority • Bishops supervised priests & settled disputes over Church teachings and practices • Priests • Local priests served as the main contact with the church

31. The Authority of the Church • The church was a stable force during an era of constant warfare and political turmoil. It provided Christians with a sense of security and of belonging to a religious community. • Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. • At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people.

32. The Authority of the Church • The Church’s authority was both religious and political • Canon Law = church law in matters such as marriage and religious practices • Harshest punishments for offenders= excommunication & interdict • Popes used the threat of excommunication, or banish­ ment from the Church, to wield power over political rulers.

33. The Church and the Holy Roman Empire The most effective ruler of medieval Germany was Otto I, known as Otto the Great. Otto, crowned king in 936. • He formed a close alliance with the church • Gained support of the monasteries • Used power to defeat German princes • Invaded Italy on pope’s behalf • 962, the pope rewarded Otto by crowning him emperor – Holy Roman Empire

34. The Emperor Clashes with the Pope • The Church was not happy that kingshad control over clergy and their offices. It especially resented the practice of lay investiture, a ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officials. • Whoever controlled lay investiture held the real power in naming bishops, who were very influential clergy that kings sought to control. • 1075, Pope Gregory VII banned lay investiture, which infuriated the German emporer, Henry IV. • Concordat of Worms - y its terms, the Church alone could appoint a bishop, but the emperor could veto the appointment.

35. Disorder in the Empire By 1152, the seven princes who elected the German king realized that Germany needed a strong ruler to keep the peace. • Frederick I – called his lands “Holy Roman Empire” but it was actually feudal territories • Forceful personality & military skills allowed him to dominate the German princes, however, when he left the country, disorder occurred • Repeatedly invaded Italy; merchants united against him; he angered the pope • Battle of Legnano – Italian foot soldiers used crossbows to defeat feudal knights for the first time in history

36. Disorder in the Empire – German states remain separate • Failed attempts to revive Charlemagne’s empire & alliance with the church • Wars with Italian cities • Clashes with the pope • System of German princes electing the king weakened royal authority