European Middle Ages

European Middle AgesDay 1Middle AgesSpanned from 500-1500

Why are we learning this?Christianity is still the dominant religion in Europe. European immigrants and their descendants have made Christianity the dominant religion in North and South AmericaTodays forms of representative government include mutual rights and responsibilities, as feudalism didReligious leader still speak out of political issues such as war and povertyGermans Invade Former Western RomeGerman forces invaded what had been the Western Roman EmpireGermans brought about a lot of changeDisruption of TradeDownfall of CitiesPopulation ShiftDecline of LearningLoss of Common Language

Disruption of TradeMerchants were facing invasion from both land and seaAttackers were coming both on foot and shipCreated a problem from selling goodsNo one wants to buy goods in the middle of a battleBusinesses collapsedBreakdown of trade destroyed Europes cities as economic centersMoney transactions did not happen thus making money scarceDownfall of CitiesPeople abandoned cities to try and escape the fightingNo one wants to live where fighting is taking placePeople would move out of cities and not come back

Population ShiftsBecause of the cities and governments collapsing, nobles retreated to the rural areasRoman cities were left without strong leadershipOther city dwellers also fled to the countrysideGrew their own food, lived off of the landPopulation became mostly ruralDecline of LearningThe German invaders could not read or writePeople were displaced from the city to the countryside where there wasnt any schools or librariesFew people except priests and other church officials were literateThe knowledge attained about Greek and Roman culture was almost completely lostOnly a few people could read Greek works of literature, science and philosophy

Loss of a Common LanguageWith German people mixing with the Roman population, Latin changedIt was still the official language, but no one really understood itDifferent dialects were developed as new words and phrasesBecame part of everyday speechBy the 800s French, Spanish, and other Roman-based languages had evolved from LatinEventually two different languages were formed: French and SpanishGovernment 400 - 600Small Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provincesBorders of those kingdoms changed all the time with the fortunes of warCountries would take land over, lose it, take it over againThroughout everything going on, the Church as an institution survived the fall of the Roman EmpireDuring the time of chaos, the Church provided order and securitySmall communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions were createdGovernment 400 - 600The concept of Government changesLoyalty to public government and written law had unified Roman societyFamily ties and personal loyalty, rather than citizenship in a public state, held Germanic society together

Germanic Leaders and Follower RelationshipEvery Germanic chief led a band of warriors who had pledged their loyalty, rather than citizenship to himPeople had personal relationships with their chiefThe chief gave his people food, weapons, and treasureIn battle, warriors fought to the death at their lord's sideThey considered it a disgrace to outlive himCitizens felt no loyalty to an emperor because they never metWouldnt respect any official who was sent to collect taxes on behave of the emperorFranks and ChristianityFranks: a Germanic people who settled in the Roman province of Gaul and established a great empire during the Middle AgesFrank Leader: Clovis brought Christianity to his peopleWhile in a losing battle, Clovis turned to the Christian God for helpThe battle shifted and the Franks wonThe Church in Rome supported Cloviss military campaigns against other Germanic peoplesIn 511, Franks were united into on Kingdom (modern day France)

Germans Adopt ChristianityPolitics played a key role in spreading Christianity By 600, the Church and Frankish rulers, many Germanic people were converted to Christianity

MissionariesReligious travelersOften risked their lives to bring religious beliefs to other landsGoal was to spread their religionWe are talking about Christianity

MonasteriesMonastery: a religious community of men (called monks) who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer and worshipThese were built to adapt of rural conditionsWomen who followed this way were called nuns and lived in conventsImportance of education is a major focusHelps to keep learning and education alive during the Middle Ages

MonasteriesBenedictMonk, wrote a book describing the rules for monastic lifeThese guidelines became a model for many other religious communities in western EuropeBecame Europes best educated communitiesMany monks opened up schools, maintained libraries, and copied booksScholars consider monasteries the best historical work of the early Middle Ages

Pope Gregory I/ Gregory the GreatExpanded the authority of the papacy (popes office)Traditionally the pope just played a spiritual roleSecular (worldly) power involved in politicsThe popes palace was the center of the Roman governmentUsed Church revenue to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poorNegotiated peace treaties with invaders such as the LombardsStrengthened the vision of ChristendomChurch kingdom that fanned out from Rome to the most Western Europe distant churches

Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer)Mayor of the palaceHeld more power than the kingExtended the Frankish kingdom to the north, south, and eastBattle of ToursStopped the Muslim InvasionIf the Muslims would have won, western Europe might have become part of the Muslim EmpireHis victory at tours made him a Christian heroHis son, Pepin the Short, was his successor

Pepin the ShortBecame King when his father passed awayAgreed to work with the popeFought the Lombards in agreement with the popeLombards were invading Italy and threatening RomeIn exchange for fighting the Lombards, the pope made Pepin king by the grace of GodBecame the first king ever anointed by the popeThis began the Carolingian DynastyRuled the Franks from 751 to 987CharlemagneAlso known as Charles the GreatRuled the kingdom after his Father and brother diedWanted to expand the empire and Christianity

Charlemagne the Roman EmperorBuilt an empire grater than any know since ancient RomeLed armies to battle the enemies surrounding the Frankish EmpireReunited Western Roman empireFirst time since the Roman empireProtected the Pope so became known as the Roman Emperor

Charlemagnes EmpireLimited the authority of the noblesSent out royal agents to make sure the nobles were governing their counties justlyThey made sure that the powerful landholders (counts) governed their kingdoms correctly and weren't corruptCharlemagne regularly visited every part of his kingdomEncouraged learningSurrounded himself with German, English, and Spanish scholarsMonasteries opened schools and expanded their librariesThis was done to train monks and priestsDownfall of Charlemagnes EmpireA year before Charlemagne died, he crowned his son, Louis the Pious, as emperorLouis was very religious but not a very good rulerLouis left his three sons the empireAll who split the empire upAll signed the Treaty of Verdun which divided the empires into three kingdomsWithout central authority or strong leadership the empire weakensFeudalismA political system and economic system based on land ownership and personal loyalty

Day 2

VikingsCame from Scandinavia, a Germanic peopleAlso known as Northmen or NorsemenThey worshiped warlike gods and took pride in nicknamesEric Bloodaxe and Thorfinn SkullsplitterWere able to attack and get away quicklyThey would raid a ship or port, steal and kill, then quickly move out to sea before locals could mount a defenseKnown for their ability to sail, trade, and raid

Viking WarriorsMay have reached the Americas around 1000This is almost 500 years before ColumbusLeif Ericson led the voyageGradually started to accept ChristianityThis stopped them from raiding monasteriesStarted to adopt agricultural practices

Invasions throughout EuropeMagyars attacked from the EastAfter taking over land, they did not settle, capture people as slavesMuslims attached from the SouthTheir plan was to conquer and settle in EuropeWere very good at attacking settlements on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastsVikings attacked from the North

Vikings v. FranceRollo head of the Viking armyCharles the Simple King of FranceCharles gave the Vikings a piece of land Normandy in return for Rollo ending his plundering of French land

Feudalism: Mutual ObligationLord: Landowner given in exchange for military service and loyalty to the kingFief: grant of landKnights: mounted warriors served Nobles/LordsPeasants: those who worked the land owned by their LordSerfs: people who could not legally leave the landEuropean Feudal System

ManorsManors: lords estateThere was an agreement between the lords and serfs that lived at the manorThe lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland, and protection from banditsThe serfs tended the lord's lands, cared for his animals, and performed other tasks to maintain the estatePeasant women shared in the farm work with their husbands

ManorsOnly a few square milesContained 15 30 familiesTypical manors included:Manor House: the dwelling place of the lord and his family and their servantsVillage Church: Site of both religious services and public meetingsPeasant Cottages: Where the peasants livedLords Demesne: Fields owned by the lord and worked by the peasantsPeasant Crofts: Gardens that belonged to the peasantsMills: Water-powered for grinding grainCommon Pastures: Common area for grazing animalsWoodland: forests provided wood for fuelFeudal Manor

Peasant LifePaid taxes on grain ground in the lords millPaid taxes on marriageWeddings had to be approvedPaid a tithe A 10% tax given to the church

Day 3ChivalryChivalry: a code of behavior for knights in medieval Europe, stressing ideals such as courage, loyalty, and devotionIdeals that governed European warfareDemanded that a knight fight bravely in defense of three mastersFeudal lordGodChosen lady (his love)

Knights/SoldiersHeavily armoredArmored themselves to protect from arrows and swordsTry to cover every part of the bodyWell trainedSword training and horseback ridingFought on horsebackLeather saddles and the use of stirrups for balanceWas able to carry heavy weapons because of the stirrupsMost important part of an armyKnights DefendEurope was a battle ground between noblesAll were trying to fight for power throughout the landsFeudal lords raised private armies of knights to protect their landsIn exchange for military service, feudal lords used their most abundant resource (land) to give to the knights and most skilled warriorsFiefs: pieces of land given out to the knights and skilled warriorsA lord would typically require knights to give 40 days of serviceKnightsChivalrous knights protected the weak and poorThe ideal knight was loyal and braveThose that failed to meet these high standards:Stripped of their armorShield was crackedSpurs were cut offSword was broken over his headThrown into a coffin and suffered through a mock funeralKnights and BattlesCastlesHome of the lord, lady, family, knights, and servantsFortressWays to defend the castle:Boiling water, oil, or molted leadArchers on the roof

Castle and Siege WeaponsSiege TowerHad a platform on top that lowed like a drawbridgeCould support weapons and soldiersMantletShielded soldiersBatterling RamMade of heavy timber with a sharp metal tipSwung like a pendulum to crack castle walls or to knock down a drawbridge

Castle and Siege WeaponsTortoiseMoved slowly on wheelsSheltered soldiers from falling arrowsMangonelFlung huge rocks that crashed into castle wallsPropelled objects up to a distance of 1,300 feetTrebuchetWorked like a giant slingshotPropelled objects up to a distance of 980 feet

TournamentsMock battles between a group of knightsKnights would try to prove their battle skills in front of an audienceWinners usually demanded some kind of ransom from defeated knights

Medieval WomenDuring this time period many of the men were powerlessThis was even tougher for women since they were already seen as being inferior to menRole became increasingly limited to homes and conventsThis was backed by the churchNoblewomen held some power and played key roles in their estatesThey could inherit land from their husbands and send his knights to warHelped in defending the castle by firing arrows and hurling rocksTroubadoursPoet-musiciansWorked at castles and courts throughout EuropeComposed short verses and songs about joy, love, and sorrows

Day 4Literature of ChivalryIdealized castle lifeMade living in the castle sound greatGlorified knighthood, tournaments, and battlesSongs and poems about a knights love for his ladyExample of a medieval epic story:The Song of Roland

The Power of the ChurchSince there was a weak central government in feudal Europe, the Church was able to emerge as a powerful institutionAfter the crowning of Charlemagne as the Roman Emperor in 800, the Church sought to influence both spiritual and political mattersPope Gelasius recognized 300 years earlier that a conflict could arise between Church and KingsThere are two powers by which this world is chiefly ruled: the sacred authority of the priesthood and the authority of kingsStructure of the ChurchPower based on statusPope: head of the Catholic ChurchClergy: religious officials consisting of bishops, priests, and various members of the ChurchBishops: supervised priests, settled disputes over church teachings and religious practicePriests: local church leaders

Unification of ReligionShared beliefs in the teaching of the church brought people togetherThe church was a stable force during an era of constant warfare and political turmoilProvided a sense of security and religious communitySacraments: important religious ceremonies performed for the common peopleExamples: baptism

Church LawsCannon Law: the body of laws governing the religious practices of a Christian churchChurch courts tried people who violated these lawsHarshest Punishments: excommunication and probationExcommunication: banishment from the churchPopes would use the threat of excommunication against political rulers as a way of getting what they wanted

Holy Roman EmpireOtto the Great (Otto I) was crowned king in 936Followed the policies of his hero, CharlemagneCreated a close alliance with the ChurchLimited the power of the nobles with increased power to the clergyWould gain the support of people to build up his powerHoly Roman Empire v. the PopeLay Investiture: a ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officialsThis did not make the church happyThe church wanted to pick their own officialsThe church knew that whoever controlled Lay Investiture held the real power in naming bishops, who were very influential clergy that kings sought to controlIt wasnt until 1075 that Lay Investiture was bannedCanossa, ItalyGerman Emperor Henry IVCalled the Pope a false monkPope excommunicated Henry, started losing control of GermanyWent to beg the Pope for forgivenessThe Pope made Henry wait in the snow for 3 days before lifting the excommunication (The Pope was obligated to forgive any sinner who begged so humbly)

Concordat of WormsSays that the church alone could grant a bishop his ring and staff, symbols of the church officeThe Emperor had the right to veto (or prevent) the appointment of a bishop

Frederick I/BarbarossaIn 1152, seven German Princes realized that Germany needed a strong ruler to keep the peaceThey elected Frederick I, nickname was BarbarossaFirst ruler to call his lands the Holy Roman EmpireHis forceful personality and military skills enabled him to dominate the German princesFocused on invasion of rich cities in ItalyHis brutal tactics spurred Italian merchants to unit against him

Lombard LeagueItalian merchants and the Pope united to fight Frederick1176 foot soldiers battled Fredericks mounted knights and wonThis was a very surprising victory, it proved that foot soldiers could beat knightsItalian foot soldiers used crossbows to defeat feudal knights for the first time in history

German BickeringFrederick I empire dissolved into fragmented feudal statesDisunity weakened the nationTerritories would attack each other