Beginning of Medieval Europe (9, 12d, 12a)

Disruption of Trade Downfall of Cities Population Shifts Decline of Learning Loss of common language

Classical heritage of Rome Christian beliefs = Unified Europe Customs of Germanic tribes

Roman authority declined, while church authority grew

Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman Cultural achievements

Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes

Pope anointed Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor – 800AD

Parish Priests served religious and social needs of the people

Europe in Chaos! We need PROTECTION! Fief – piece of land given from lord to his

vassal, called a manor Vassals – people who serve their lord Serfs – a.k.a. peasants, people who work

on fiefs Feudal obligations

Vassal – pay taxes to lord, military service

Lord – protect his vassal

Money goes up; Protection goes down.

Rigid Class structure Self-sufficient manors

Franks, Gallic tribe, emerge as a force in Western Europe

Pope crowned the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire = Power of the Church established in political life

Roman Cultural was revived

Son, Louis, was not a strong king

Louis had three sons Lothair Charles the Bald Louis the German

They fought each other Eventually divided Charlemagne's

kingdom into three halves at the Treaty of Verdun

Video Europe after the Fall of Rome

New Invasions Trouble Europe Vikings

Causes Overpopulation Lack of land at home Desire for free stuff

Used Long Boats to raid around Europe Terrorized villages along coast Also explored

Leif Ericson even reached North America around 1000 A.D.

Magyars and Muslims Contributed to chaos Grabbed people to sell as slaves

Video – Vikings Warriors

Horseback – Two inventions Saddle Stirrups

Knights Served their lords in return

for fiefs of land Time spent in training for battle

Knightly code of conduct Respect for Ladies Reverence to God Loyalty to sworn lord Glory in battle and tournaments

Knights must maintain character standards or be punished

Knights competed in tournaments to show off their skillz

Warfare was terrible p.329

Epic Poetry in Medieval times Idealize chivalry and Knighthood Praised heroic deeds and adventures

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Charlemagne's battles Song of Rolan p. 330

Troubadours Sang epic songs with a lute (simple guitar) Themes of Love and Loyalty

To lord To lady