The Early & High Middle Ages

Timeframe: 500-1,000 CE Important people: Clovis, Charles Martel, & Charlemagne

Important places: Europe Important things: Catholic church - extremely powerful - dominated all aspects of life.

Feudalism…nobles, knights, & peasants.

The Early Middle Ages

The Fall of the Roman EmpireRiddled with social, economic, and political

problems, the territories in the Roman Empire fell from invasions.

New Germanic Kingdoms

When W. Rome fell in 476 CE, Germanic invaders carved up Western Europe into small kingdoms.

Franks = FranceVisigoths = SpainOstrogoths = ItalyAnglo-Saxons = EnglandByzantium Empire = Eastern Roman Empire

The FranksOnly one German kingdom proved long lasting…The Franks

Frankish kingdom was established by Clovis

Strong military leader1st Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity (500 AD)

Gained the support of Roman Catholic Church.

*Made Vikings part of European society by settling them and converting them to Christianity.

By 510, Clovis had created a powerful new kingdom that stretched from Pyrenees in the SW (in Spain) to modern day France & W. Germany.

The Franks

Tomb of Clovis at the Basilica of St. Denis in the suburbs of Paris.

By 622 Islam had spread and was a growing huge empire

Muslim armies overran Palestine, N. Africa, and Spain.

The Muslim World

Charles MartelAs the Islamic caliphates pushed over the Pyrenees

Mtns in Spain and deeper into W. Europe , they were

stopped by…

Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours in 732

This is significant b/c

it kept Muslims

out of Europe

except in Spain.

In the 800s, Charlemagne reunited much of Europe.Set up a strong efficient

government (model)He revived learningExtended Christian civilization

into northern EuropeFurther blended German,

Roman, and Christian traditionsAfter Charlemagne died, his heirs battled for power In 843, they split the empire into

three regions.

Age of Charlemagne

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Feudalism Feudalism is a social system

based on mutual obligations between lords, vassals & serfs.

Feudalism emerged b/c people needed protection from competing interests and invasions.

Feudalism created a strict order in medieval society.

The heart of feudalism – vassalage, which meant warriors swore loyalty to a lord, who in turn took care of their needs.

Serfs/PeasantsFarm land/provided shelter

Feudalism

Monarch

Lords

Lesser Lords

Knights

Peasants

Knights adopted a code of conduct called Chivalry

Which required them to be brave, loyal, and true to their word

In warfare to fight fairly and be generous to their enemies

Rules in chivalry applied to nobles only (not commoners).

Knights

Peasants made up the majority of medieval society They lived and worked on the

lord’s estate or manor Most peasants on the manor

were serfs Were bound to the land In theory they were

guaranteed food, housing and land.

Peasant Life

Daily life Avg life span was 35 yrs Everyone worked No school or learning Simple diet of black bread & few veggies Believed in elves, fairies, love potions,

and magic charmsPriests tried to Christianize them

Peasant Life

It was thee most powerful secular force in medieval Europe The pope claimed authority over all men Taught all men were sinners and doomed unless saved through

Sacraments Taught that men and women were equal before God But on Earth women were inferior to men Had it’s own law and courts (Canon Law) Could excommunicate violators – exclusion from the Roman Catholic

Church as penalty for refusing to obey Church laws. Nobles and Kings could be interdicted – excommunicate an entire

region, town, or kingdom.

After the fall of Rome, the Christian Church split into eastern & western churches. The western church, became known as the Roman Catholic Church

The Medieval Church

The Church was the Center of Daily Life

Monasteries & convents performed a vital cultural function by preserving the learning of the ancient world.

Benedictine rule 530AD Oath of poverty Vows of chastity Obedience to the abbot Hard work was of spiritual

value

As the Church became stronger and wealthier, it also became corrupt Clergy tended to be worldly

and lived in luxury Monks and nuns ignored

their vows

The Medieval Church

Capital city: Constantinople

Trade & knowledge flourished in Constantinople due to its location as a meeting point between India/Asia & Europe.

Eastern Roman EmpireAKA – The Byzantine Empire

Justinian – most notable emperor in 552 Restored Roman empire during his reign. From N. Africa to Asia Minor. Most important contribution – codified Roman law which became the

basis for much of the legal system in Europe Greatest achievement – built the famous Hagia Sophia in 537– the

Church of Holy Wisdom

Eastern Roman Empire

Eastern Roman Empire

Eastern Roman Empire

TheodoraEmpress & Justinian’s wifeChampioned women’s rightsWomen can divorce, keep

children, & own property.Laws against beating wivesResponsible for keeping

Justinian in power when under attack by riots

Eastern Roman Empire

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Agricultural Revolution1. Wood plows pulled by oxen (broke & slow) Iron plows pulled by horses (stronger & faster)

Agricultural Revolution2. Windmills were invented – they grind large quantities of grain into flour

Agricultural Revolution3. The three field system

One w/ grains, one w/ legumes, and one fallow. when fallow, soil has time to replenish

Agricultural RevolutionResults of the Agricultural Revolution….

More food More population More than doubled between the years 1,000-1,300 CE

European Trade RevivesMerchants set up routes with armed caravans

Trade fairs help create new townsArtisans made

goods for the tradersCities slowly grewThe most

prosperous in N. Italy & Flanders

European Trade RevivesCharters

From the king or lordTownspeople could

control their own affairsAnyone living in the town

for 1 year + 1 day was free!!!

Put new ideas into circulation & greatly expanded the middle class

Economic & Social Changes

Economic ChangesMoney reappearedThe need for capital

created banking housesPartnerships developed Insurance underwriting

beganBill of exchange

Social changesMost lords needed

money to buy goodsMany serfs began to sell

goods to the towns Paying their lords in cash

instead of tradeBy 1300, most serfs

were now tenant farmers or hired laborers

Denier (Penny in English, Pfennig in German, Denaro in Italian)

Workers Guilds Guilds

Merchant & craft guilds dominated life in towns

Membership was a three step process

Apprentice - age 7 or 8 for seven years

Journeymen.....most did not make master

Master

Medieval Towns

Medieval TownsGrew in a haphazard mannerJumble of narrow streets & tall buildings

No street lightingNoisy during the day deserted at night

Had no garbage or sewer so waste went into the streets

Towns were filthy, smelly, noisy & crowded

Effects of TradePut new ideas and products into circulationReintroduced moneyRevised social structure

Kings had more powerGrowing middle classSerfs changed to free peasants

Sets the stage for the Renaissance

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The High Middle Ages

Timeframe: 1050 – 1450 CEImportant places/people/things:

England King John, Magna Carta, ParliamentFrance Philip II & Luis IVHoly Roman Empire Pope Innocent IIICrusades 1095-1204, 7 totalBlack Death #s, social, & econ effectsHundred Years War France vs. England

The High Middle Ages1050-1450 CE

Strong monarchs in England & France used various means to centralize power

Set up system of royal justiceCreated a gov’t bureaucracyTax systemsStanding armiesWorked w/ the new middle class

In England: New Political Traditions Evolved

Common lawHenry II sent out traveling

justices to enforce royal lawTheir decisions became the

basis for…The jury system

The justices formed groups of men to determine which cases should be heard (grand jury)

Evolved into jury by peers

Magna Carta in 1215King John was forced to sign it in1215 It stated that nobles had certain rightsThe king couldn’t raise new taxes w/o 1st consulting The Great Council (lords & clergy)

In England: New Political Traditions Evolved

Parliament The Great Council evolved into parliament In 1295, Edward I added common people to the councilParliament became bicameral

House of Lords & House of Commons

In England: New Political Traditions Evolved

In France: Strong leaders built an efficient

centralized bureaucracyPhilip Augustus of France

Used paid middle class officials

Chartered many new townsOrganized a standing army Introduced a nat’l taxQuadrupled royal land holdings

In France: Strong leaders built an efficient

centralized bureaucracyLouis IX

Lived by the rules of Chivalry

Persecuted heretics, Jews and Muslims

Expanded royal courtsOutlawed private warsEnded serfdom in his lands

Phillip IVClashed with Pope Boniface VIII so he Killed him &

moved the new pope to France

Set up the Estates General - had representatives from all three estates or classes:

ClergyNobles Townspeople

In France: Strong leaders built an efficient

centralized bureaucracy

Church Supremacy

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Preoccupied with power

struggles with the Church Was forced to give in to

demands of the German nobles

The nobles’ increasing independence made it impossible to unify Germany’s many feudal states.

*Pope Innocent III .…1198 Led Church to the height of

power and prestige Keep strict control over the

clergy Claimed supremacy over all

other rulers Led a crusade against the

Albigensians in S. France

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The Crusades 1095 to 1204Byzantine Empire

Seljuk Turks (Muslims) extended their power over Palestine and attacked Christian pilgrims

Alexius I sent and urgent plea for help to Urban II

Western Europeans were unaware of advanced civilizations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

*Urged on by Pope Urban 1000’s joined the Crusades

*Why did they go? Religious reasons Win wealth and land Escape troubles at home For adventure

Seven Crusades1st 1095-1099 Brought Jerusalem under the Christain

crusaders control

The Crusades 1095 to 1204

Seven Crusades2nd 1147-49 Epic fail

Then in 1187… Muslim forces began to fight back… Holy City of Jerusalem fell to Muslim forces

under the leader, Saladin

The Crusades 1095 to 1204

Seven Crusades3rd 1188-1192 King Richard the Lionhearted of

England negotiated w/ Saladin, Christians permitted to visit

Jerusalem

4th 1202-1204 Looted Constantinople

5th 1217-12216th 1228-12397th 1248-1250

The Crusades 1095 to 1204

*The Reconquista Spain expelled the Muslims from their land Created a unified state under King Ferdinand

and Queen Isabella Spain was broke afterwards so they hired

Columbus in 1492 to search for new land and riches.

The Crusades 1095 to 1204

*Effects of the CrusadesLeft a bitter legacy of religious hatredHelped quicken the changes in EuropeIncreased levels of tradePapal power reached its greatest heightHardened Byzantine resentment against the WestIncreased the power of W. Europe’s monarchsEncouraged the growth of a money economyBrought Europe into contact with other civilizations

The Crusades 1095 to 1204

A Revival of Learning

Improved economic and political conditions led to a revival of learning

Universities started teaching..... math, geometry, astronomy, music, grammar, rhetoric and logic

Europe enjoyed a cultural flowering, as writers created works in the vernacular and cities all over Europe built towering stone cathedrals that served as symbols of their wealth and religious devotion.

Europeans rediscovered the writings of the ancient Greeks

Setting off a revolution in the world of ideasForcing Christian scholars to resolve the conflict between logic and faith (scholasticism)Use reason to discover basic truths OR accept truths

on faithScience made little progress....most thought true knowledge must fit with church teachings

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A Time of Crisis

Europe attacked in 3 ways in mid-1300's

1. Drought2. Black Death3. Hundred Years War

A Time of Crisis: Drought

1. Drought caused widespread crop failures resulting in Famine, malnutrition and starvation Famine weakened the population, leaving them

vulnerable to the plague

A Time of Crisis: Black Plague

2. Black Death /The Bubonic PlagueSpread by flea infested ratsUnsanitary towns helped spread the plagueSymptoms:

Swellings and black bruisesHeavy sweatsConvulsive coughingRotted on the inside spitting blood and smelling terribly

Died in agony

A Time of Crisis: Black Plague

Killed 1 out of 3 people Approximately 38 million people died Created social & economic chaos

A Time of Crisis: Black Plague

Social changesTurned to magic and witchcraft for cures

Plunged into wild pleasures

Saw plague as God’s punishment

Blamed the Jews

Economic changesLabor shortagePrices roseScared people rioted and revolted

A Time of Crisis: Black Plague

3. War fought between: England vs. France

1337 – 1453

A Time of Crisis: Hundred Years’ War

A Time of Crisis: Hundred Years’ WarJoan of Arc

Inspired French soldiers & led them in battle

Betrayed by French & died on the stake

1412 - 1431

The effects of the war… Increased nat’lism & expanded royal power in FranceDevastated the countryside Increased power of Parliament in EnglandDrained their money supply

A Time of Crisis: Hundred Years’ War

Longbow Cannon

Changes in warfare:

A Time of Crisis: Hundred Years’ War

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