Europe in the middle ages 500-1500 AD

1. Chapter 13 Europe in the middle ages500-1500 AD

2. Overview & Background • New European civilization emerges • Formed by combination of 3 elements coming together • Germanic tribes invading old Roman Empire • Roman legacy of culture, government • Christian church & spread of Christianity • Simultaneously • Byzantine Empire in Mediterranean creates own unique civilization

3. Germanic Invasions • Germanic tribes move into Roman Empire • Visigoths move into Spain primarily • Ostrogoths took control of Italy and area north • Eventually, Western Roman Empire gone • Germanic states ruled by German kings • Romans and Germans merge

5. Invasions/Warfare disrupt society Trade Population Cities/Gov’t • Businesses collapsed • Economic centers (cities) destroyed • Money becomes scarce • As cities are abandoned, no one is administering (taking care of business!) in the empire • As cities/gov’t collapse: nobles, leaders, and city folks head for rural areas where they can farm Decline of learning – only priests, monks Loss of common language – Latin blends w/French, Spanish, etc.

6. Germanic Kingdoms • Germanic kingdoms fight with each other • Shifting borders • Church is only constant – order, security • Concept of Gov’t changes • Rome • Loyal to state • Written laws • Strong gov’t • Unified society • Germanic • Family, personal ties • Loyalty to them • Unwritten rules • Warriors loyal to chiefs • Chief provided for their needs, they fought for him Impossible to govern large territory

7. Germanic Kingdoms • Roman law – crimes against the state • Germanic law – more personal -- How? • Bloody feuds between families – revenge • Developed concept of “wergild” • “money for a man” • Injure or kill someone, must pay the family • Value determined by social status • How did they determine guilt? • Ordeal – hold hot iron, boiling water • If innocent – divine intervention saves you

8. Clovis & the Franks • Franks held power in Gaul (France & Switzerland) – largest, strongest kingdom • Clovis – the ruler • Converts to Christianity after “divine intervention” in a battle • He & warriors are baptized • Whole kingdom converts, which unifies the Franks • Relationship between church & the Kingdom is start of powerful partnership in Medieval Europe

10. Charles Martel • Major domo = most powerful person in the Frankish kingdom • Took care of estate, palace, made policies • Led armies, ruled the kingdom • 719 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) • More powerful than the King • Defeats Muslims at Battle of Tours • If he had lost, would have dramatically changed Europe • Western Europe would have been in Muslim Empire • He becomes Christian hero; sons fight for Pope • Crown Pepin “King by the grace of God” • Begins Carolingian Dynasty : 751-987

11. Charlemagne & Carolingians • Who was Charlemagne? • Pepin’s son • Charles the Great – builds largest empire since ancient Rome • What was he like? • Fierce warrior – conquered lands, fought Muslims • Smart • Curious • Decisive • Determined • Spread Christianity • By 800, empire larger than Byzantine • Sent royal agents out to help govern

12. Charlemagne & Carolingians • Charlemagne ruled from 768 – 814 • Empire covered much of western & central Europe • In 800 crowned by Pope Leo III “Emperor of Romans” • He fought off attack on Pope • Turning point in history – new civilization • Crowning of Charlemagne brought together 3 elements – Roman heritage, Christianity, Germans

13. Charlemagne-Charles the Great

14. Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne

15. Charlemagne & Carolingians • What is meant by intellectual renewal? • Carolingian Renaissance • Promoted learning • Educated clergy • Educated government officials • Monasteries: Scriptoria = writing room • Monks copied Roman & Greek classics, Bible

16. What happened after Charlemagne died? • Treaty of Verdun: 30 years later grandsons divide Empire into 3 sections • West, Middle & East • Weakens the empire, leads to feudalism after Viking invasions

17. Feudalism – Begins with Invasions • Divided kingdom = invasions 800-1000 AD • Most far-reaching attacks: Norsemen of Scandinavia • Vikings – Germanic people • 9th Century sacked cities, destruction everywhere • Superb ship builders & sailors – sailed inland via rivers to attack – settled all over Europe • Fierce warriors – quick, surprise attacks • Magyars from W. Asia into Central Europe • Hungary, Germany, northern Italy • Muslims attack from N. Africa into southern Europe • Spain, Sicily, Italy, Switzerland

18. Wave of Invasions – 9th-10th Centuries

20. How did Franks react? • Invasions caused disorder, suffering, constant danger • Helped settle the Vikings • Converted them to Christianity • This is how Normandy, France was settled • Where D-Day invasion took place WWII

21. Feudalism – Begins with Invasions • People turned to local landed aristocrats (lords-nobles) for protection • Feudalism = social, political, economic system • System of service in exchange for protection • Lords controlled land - land has greatest value • They have political power – rule their fiefdom • Considered an honorable relationship – contract between the lord and vassal • Brings order & stability amidst invasions & attacks from other nobles

22. Feudalism All land belongs to King – he grants use of it to Lords: Nobles & Clergy King The Lords could grant land (fief) to Knights Lords Wealthy Landowners Nobles, Bishops In exchange, they pledge loyalty, military service to King Knights – fight for the Lords & King; could get land – fief; then he would be a Lord to people below him In exchange, they pledge loyalty, military service to Lord Lords & Knight are called Vassals Peasants – farmed the land, but didn’t own it; most are serfs Serfs – bound to the land; could not leave where born & whatever they produced, belonged to the Lord

23. People born into their positions • Those who fought • Those who prayed • Those who worked • Free peasants were masons, bakers, leather goods, raised sheep, farmed, butcher; could move to other manors or places • Serfs were tied to the land; could never leave it. Farmed, but everything belonged to lord. They were provided a home, fields to farm, & other needs met by lord. • They exchanged freedom for security.

24. Manors – Feudal Economic System • Lords provide: • Housing • Farmland • Protection from bandits, invaders, other nobles • Approve marriages • Judge, jury, executioner • Collect taxes, portion of grain • Provide mills for grains • Ensure Manor is well cared for • Vassals, Peasants & Serfs provide: • Military service • Farm the land – their fields & the lord’s • Give portion of grains • Pay high taxes – on mills & other things • Care for animals • Must give # of days to lord for service on manor • Build roads, bridges, do repairs, • Tithe church (1/10th)

25. Feudal Manors Jigsaw • Get into groups of 6 people, use HW notes • Team 1 & 3: • Describe the relationship between the lord & serfs • Include the economics • Team 2&4: • How was the Manor a self-contained world?

26. Draw Feudal Manor

27. Knights and Code of Chivalry • Nobles fought with each other at times • Created private armies of knights - horsemen • Saddles & stirrups help lead to this type of warfare • As warriors, formed a special group • Primary job is to fight • Use wealth from fief to pay expenses • Armor, horses, weapons, shields • Spend lives training to fight – held tournaments to practice • Developed code of chivalry

28. Code of Chivalry • Brave, courageous • Loyal • Courteous • Protect weak and poor • Protect the church • Treat captives as honored guests • Fight for glory, not material rewards Knights did not always live up to the code. Often treated peasants brutally.

29. Becoming a Knight • 7 years old = Page • Serve at castle of a different lord • Wait on guests, train for fighting • 14 years old = Squire • Servant to a Knight • 21 years old = Full Knight • Travel for 2 years • Fight in local, small wars • Participate in mock battles - tournaments

32. Chivalry Literature • Glamorized castle life • Downplayed the brutality • Love songs & poems • Epic poems – hero’s adventures • Troubadours – travelling poets-musicians • Songs of longing for love • Made knights look more romantic than brutal • Artificial image of women as well • Noble & pure - NOT! • Most celebrated woman – Eleanor of Aquitaine

33. Women Aristocrats • Could own property, but land went to sons • Mostly under control of men • When lord was away, what did women do? • Managed the estate • Financials • Getting food and supplies • Might serve as military commander, fight • Many advised or even dominated husbands • Eleanor of Aquitaine was most significant • Became Queen of England - married King Henry II • Gave birth to Kings Richard and John

34. Peasant Women • Endless labor – at home and in fields • Bore and raised children • Managed families • No power, yet made great huge financial contributions through their work • Church had huge influence on their lives

35. The Power of the Catholic Church The Power of the Catholic Church Benedictine Abbey

36. Role of Church • As Roman Empire deteriorated & Clovis converted to Christianity, church took on more important role • Missionaries spread Christianity • Catholic Church structure formed • Monasteries, Convents are created in rural areas • Monks & nuns live there, give up all possessions • Devote lives to prayer & good works • Italian monk Benedict writes a strict, practical set of rules for monks • Sister Scholastica does same for nuns • They open schools, copy books, preserve learning

37. Pyramid Organization of the Church Pope Cardinals elect Pope to oversee entire Church Cardinals lead group of Archbishops Archbishops lead a group of Bishops Group of Communities/Parishes —Diocese led by Bishops Local Communities—Parishes led by Priests

38. Structure of the Church • Power is based on Status • Clergy: • Officials who performed religious services • Includes priests, ministers, etc. • Local Priests = peoples main contact with the church

39. Role of Church • How did he come to be called Pope? • Taken from Latin “papa” father • What is the “papacy”? • Office of the Pope • Why was Gregory I significant? • Strengthened the papacy & church – made it more secular (worldly vs. religious) • Leader of city of Rome & surrounding papal states • Gained political power • Raised armies, helped poor, repaired roads, made treaties – became a ruler (political position)

40. Religion Unites • Church is the only thing that bonded people together—stability • Sacraments: • Christian ceremonies that transmit God’s grace to people • Ex: baptism • Main goal for people Get to heaven

41. Church Law • System of justice guides people’s conduct • Canon Law • Body of laws that govern religious practices & Christian Church • EVERYONE subject to canon law • Punishments • Excommunication • Banishment from Church • Interdict • Sacraments & religious services can’t be performed in region • w/out sacraments—doomed to hell