Aim: Did Medieval Western Europe D eserve to be Called the “Dark Ages”?

Aim: Did Medieval Western Europe Deserve to be Called the “Dark Ages”? Do Now: List at least 2achievements of the Middle Ages.

I Medieval Science and Technology A) Switch from a wooden to an iron plow B) The horse collar D) Switch from the 2 field to the 3 field system C) The horse shoe

Medieval Science and Technology Continued… E) The long bow F) Gunpowder was invented in China. By the time of the 100 Years War, the French and British were both using cannons.

II Medieval Art, Architecture, and Music B) Tapestries: hand-woven, hung on the walls to decorate castles A) Stained glass windows C) Invention of written music and Gregorian chants: unaccompanied melody with Latin words D) Troubadours: Traveling entertainers

Medieval Art, Architecture, and Music Continued… F) Romanesque Churches: High arches, thick walls, from early middle ages E) Illuminated manuscripts: monks would handwrite texts with illustrated letters G) Gothic Churches: Taller, lighter, flying buttresses, later middle ages

Medieval Art, Architecture, and Music Continued… H) Castles served as fortresses and homes. The first castles were built over 1000 years before Harry Potter.

III Medieval Literature B) The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer: A tale about English pilgrims (religious travelers). It was a satire of English society. • Many of the most important works of medieval literature were written in the vernacular (everyday language), and not Latin. C) The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: Dante was a politician from Venice. He wrote about an imaginary journey to heaven, purgatory and hell. His “tour guide” was Virgil, the ancient Roman poet. His description of hell influenced how many Christians viewed hell. His beautiful prose was actually chosen as the official Italian language! Fun Fact: Dante described his enemies, both alive and dead, in the deepest realms of hell. “The Prioress’s Tale” is a story in The Canterbury Tales about the murder of a child by “evil” Jews. Unfortunately, anti-Semitic stories in the middle ages were very common.

Medieval Literature Continued… “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in great moral crises maintain their neutrality.” - Dante, The Divine Comedy • Experience--and no matter what they say • In books--is good enough authority • For me to speak of trouble in marriage. • For ever since I was twelve years of age, • Thanks be to God, I've had no less than five • Husbands at church door--if one may believe • I could be wed so often legally! • - The Wife of Bath, Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

IV The Return of Education • Recall that few were literate in the middle ages, except for monks. • After the Crusades, Christian knights brought Islamic learning back with them. This led to the rise of the first European universities. OXFORD UNIVERSITY, ENGLAND

V The Return of Trade! • Following the Crusades, trade increased in western Europe, leading to the rise of merchant guilds, trade fairs, and towns. How else can you spice up your meat pie?? YUM!

V Medieval Government and Law • Charlemagne created the Holy Roman Empire, the first large scale and centralized government in western Europe since Rome. • King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta; now even the King was under the law. It also guaranteed a speedy trial by juries. • William the Conqueror’s Great Council became England’s parliament.

Finally, if it were not for the Middle Ages, we would not have Spamalot.

Summary • List at least 4 achievements of the Middle Ages in western Europe. • Were the achievements of the Middle Ages in western Europe as great as those of ancient Greece and Rome? Explain.

Key Vocabulary • Wooden plow • Iron plow • 2 field system • 3 field system • Long bow • Stained glass windows • Tapestries • Gregorian Chants • Romanesque Church • Gothic Church • Magna Carta • Parliament • Charlemagne • Holy Roman Empire • Universities • Vernacular • Dante’s The Divine Comedy • Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales • Anti-Semitic

Aim: Did Medieval Western Europe D eserve to be Called the “Dark Ages”?