Development of Feudalism

Back to the Roman Empire

• Rome was the most powerful empire the world had ever seen.

• Its architecture was Hellenistic and its road system was as impressive as that of the Inca in S. America

Roman Empire at its height 117 C.E.

Roman legal accomplishments

• Rome had a republican democracy sometimes

• Rome had a senate where patricians could represent people

Rule of Law

• It means nobody is above the law, not the king, not the senate, not the people, not the police.

• Laws are written down and must be respected

Fall of Rome

• Rome was besieged by various tribes from modern day Germany and France.

• The Huns, Visigoths, Vandals, Goths, and Ostrogoths were all invading

•

Roman empire overran by Germanic groups with repeated invasions and constant warfare

• Breakdown of trade: money became scarce.

• Cities abandoned – no longer center of economy or administration

• Population became rural.

• Decline of literacy – priests and other church officials were the few that were literate.

• Breakup of unified empire – language began to change. No longer Latin.

• End of Democracy

Germanic Peoples

Franks

Visigoths

Lombards

A World Without Rome

•German invasions destroy the Roman Empire•Money no longer used

–Decline in Trade

•Most people remained in the village of their birth–No more cities–Decline of learning–Loss of common language–No central government

–So who protects the people?

The only institution left standing was the Christian Church!

End of Democracy

Rome

• Unified by loyalty to public government and written law

• Orderly government

Germanic

• Family ties and personal loyalty

• People lived in small communities governed by unwritten rules and traditions

• Ruled by a Chief who led a band or warriors loyal only to him – not some emperor they’d never seen

Fall of Rome

Dark Ages in W. Europe

Tribal Warfare

Money is no longer used

Cities disappeared

Advances made by Greece & Rome forgotten

Trade collapsed

No central gov’t

Weak local gov’ts

Literacy declined

Let’s see some of the differences between the two groups, and how it led to Feudalism

Bararbians Roman Empire

Concept of Government Changes

Rome• Loyalty to public government / empire• Large cities• Written laws

• Elected (usually) officials rule

• Centralized Government – all parts of the empire run the same way

Germanic Kingdoms

• Family ties and personal loyalty.• Small communities.• Government by unwritten rules

and traditions.• Chief leads a band of warriors,

who have given a pledge of loyalty.

• *Germanic stress on personal ties made it impossible to establish orderly government for large territories.

EXTRA-CREDIT:Journal Entry/ Acrostic Poem

• Write a journal entry in the voice of a peasant.– Describe your living condition and how you feel

about your life and your future.

• Create an Acrostic Poem- Fill in the line that begins with each letter. Poem should be about how the barbarians invasions led to the need of protection.

Basic Situation

• Because the Western Empire Fell, Europe lacks a strong central government

• People need protection from invading tribes• Christianity: Franks→Clovis

While the Roman Empire declined the Church remained

• Missionaries succeeded in spreading Christianity

• Adapted to rural conditions by building monasteries – religious communities

• Rules established by Benedict

• Became best educated communities

•Only literate people.

• Shared belief bonded the people together

• The church served as a stable force as well as social center

Power of the Church

Missionaries converted the barbarian

•Polytheism•The barbairans of northern Europe were pagans.•They believed in polytheism- the worship of many gods.•They worshipped a god of war, a god of thunder, a goddess of fertility, etc.•It was downright dangerous to challenge the religions ideas of a warrior!

Monotheism•Christians believed in monotheism- the worship of one God.•Missionaries converted the barbarians to Christianity.•There are many barbarian tribes and kingdoms, the Church was a unifying force:•Everybody began to worship the same God.

St. Augustine• Augustine was a monk who headed a

monastery in Rome, Italy.• In 596, the Pope sent him (and a group of

monks) to England.• Their mission: To establish the Christian

Church and convert people to Christianity.

St. Augustine• Augustine established a church at Cantebury.• From there ,he sent out missionaries to convert the

Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.• The wandering monks converted THOUSANDS of

people to Christianity.• Why?

– Anglo-Saxons liked Christian Bible stories like Moses, the Exodus, etc.

– They were impressed by the solemnity of the Christian Church.

• In 601, Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Missionaries converted barbarian Kings

• The Franks: The first Kings to embrace Christianity

• In 500, Clovis converted to Christianity.– He was the first (but no the last)

Germanic king to embrace Christianity.– As a result, all of his warriors converted

to Christianity.

European Empire Evolves

After the decline of the Roman Empire small kingdoms sprang up all over Europe.

The largest and the strongest was controlled by the Franks

• Lead by Clovis – first Christian king

• Area that is now France

• Greatest king was Charlemagne

• most powerful king in Western Europe

• encouraged learning

From the top down!First they converted the barbarian kings.

The Franks (German barbarians living in modern day France)1. In 500, Clovis converted to Christianity. He was the first barbarian king to

embrace2. In 700, Charles ("The Hammer") Martel made war on the Muslims. 3. In 750, Pepin the Short made war on barbarians in Italy (The Lombards). 4. Heturned land in Rome over to the pope. Ever since, the pope has lived in

the Vatican.5. In 800, Charlemagne ("Charles the Great") made an alliance with the

Christian Church. He defended the Church from attacks and spread Christianity. Christian priests followed his army, preaching the Gospel and converting people along the way. In return, the pope crowned him king.

6. In 732, he defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours. By winning, he 7. stopped the Muslims for conquering France and ensured that Western

Europe would 8. be Christian.Christianity. As a result, all of his warriors converted to Christianity.

were the first barbarians to embrace Christianity-because their kingsconverted to Christianity.

ClovisLeader of the Franks

466-511

• Clovis – Frankish leader• Becomes a Christian

– Leads to increased ties to Church

– Gains more power for his tribe

– Frankish kingdom grows

                                                               

3 Frankish Kings: Charles Martel(father)

Pepin (son)

Charlemagne (grandson)

Charles Martel

• AKA The Hammer • Worried about the rapid spread of Islam• In order to help raise an army, he gave land to

those who would fight for him• Army was called the “Vassals of the Lord”• In 732, leads the Franks in their defeat of

Muslim armies at The Battle of Tours

Charles Martela.k.a. Charles “the Hammer”

• Frankish king after Clovis• Defeats the Muslims at the

Battle of Tours in 732 A.D.– Europe will be Christian, not

Muslim– How might history have been

different if he had lost the battle?

The Rapid Spread of Islam During the Middle Ages

3. The Battle of Tours- In 732 CE, the Franks defeated the Muslims in

Spain.

• This stopped Muslims from advancing into W. Europe.

DON’T WRITE THIS

Christians did not want Islam to spread into Europe, even though they learned science and math from Arab Muslims.

EXTRA-CREDIT:Battle of Tours

October 10, 732

Create a propaganda poster to recruit soldiers to join the fight.

Who:What:Why:

Pepin The Short 741-768• Charles’ son• Had a close relationship with the Pope• The Pope asked Pepin for protection from a surrounding

Germanic tribe called the Lombards• The Pope came to France to officially crown Pepin King

of the Franks• Pepin defeated the Lombards and gave the land to the

Pope- territory called the Papal States or Vatican• These events cemented a strong relationship between

the Pope and Frankish Kings

Pepin the Short• Crowned king of the Franks by the Pope

– gives some land to Pope• The Papal States• Shows increasing influence of the Pope in

politics• Ever since, the Pope has lived on these lands.

Today, the Pope’s land is called the Vatican.

Charlemagne

•“Char le magna”

•Charles the Great

•Frankish king

•Builds greatest empire since Ancient Rome.

•Spreads Christianity through conquests.

•Reunites Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire.

Charlemagne or Charles the Great: 768-814

• Became king of all Frankish territory at 29

• Carolingian Dynasty is named after him

• Great military leader and a smart, organized ruler

• Very intelligent, but struggled all his life to learn to read and write

• Deeply religious Christian• Was 6’ 4” tall, athletic, • 4 wives; 18 children

The Pope Was in a Pinch

• In 795 the Pope Adrian had died• Pope Leo III was elected to be the new pope• There was controversy over his election; many did

not support him and wanted him out• He was overthrown and driven out of Rome• Came to Charlemagne for help• Charlemagne put the Pope back into power

800 AD: Christmas Day• Pope Leo III crowned

Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor”

• But this sends a message that the Pope is more powerful than the Emperor

• It ties the Emperor to the Church; the Holy Roman Emperor must protect the Church

• Set up future power struggles between rulers and popes

Activity• Charlemagne and Pope Adrian• Charlemagne and Pope Leo IIIRecreate Charlemagne’s diary. Discuss his

interactions and feelings with these two Pope’s. Links:• http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/

popeadrian.html• http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/popeleo.html

Charlemagne Expands his Empire

• United most of Western Europe– Areas of France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland

• First time that Western Europe was united since the Fall of Western Rome

Charlemagne's Empire: 814 A.D

Achievements of Charlemagne

• Spread Christianity• Encouraged learning• Built roads, bridges, and

defensive structures• Fairer laws• Split land into counties • Used Missi Domenici-

spies that made sure his officials were ruling properly

Charlemagne’s “Holy Roman

Empire”

Expanded the lands of the Franks.

Helped centralize power in Europe

Helped Christian Church spread

Established more monastaries

Collected Taxes.

Borrowed ideas from the old Roman Empire

Charlemagne’s Government

• Expanded the lands of the Franks. • Helped centralize power in Europe. • Helped Christian Church spread. • Collected taxes (tithes.) • Helped Church establish schools and

monasteries• Borrowed ideas from old Roman empire.

•Charlemagne’s Empire was divided up after his death

•His sons mess everything up.

•Europe regresses

backwards again

End of the Empire

• The fighting that took place after Charlemagne ended the Carolingian Dynasty

• Series of wear rulers helped strengthen FEUDALISM– Wimpy kings and division of land caused folks to be

loyal to local lords instead– Like in Japan- when people became loyal to the

daimyo over the emperor

Rising Action

• 700’s Charlemagne tries to create an empire• He leads neighboring kingdoms to war and

conquered them• Charlemagne crowned emperor of Holy

Roman Empire• He shares common bonds (Christianity)

Rising Action - Continued

• Frankish KINGS can’t defend kingdoms• Nobles must defend lands (manors)• William the conqueror introduces feudalism• Nobles remain loyal to kings, but rule their

own lands

Conflict

• Muslim, Magyars, Vikings invade Europe

When Vikings Attack!

The Viking Age: Circa 800-1100http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vikings/runes.html

Viking 101

• Boys– Sent away from home at five and learned:– To fight with spears, knives, and battle axes– Sailing, navigation, how to build and repair

ships– Family trade or farming techniques

• Girls– Learned to run the farm and the household– If strong enough they were also trained as

warriors

Viking Weaponry

• Fear- blood red sails and serpent carvings on boat scared their victims

• Battle-Axe- one to throw, one to carry

• Other weapons- archers and excellent swords

• Weapons were also a sign of social class

• Berserker- extremely fierce (to the point of insane) Viking warriors

• Viking helmets did not have horns!!!

• Vikings are credited with inventing chain mail

Results of Viking Raids

• Vikings eventually settle down and mix with the people of the British Isles and France

• The system of Feudalism is strengthened • Feudalism- Peasants work and pay taxes in

exchange for land to farm and protection• France gives them a large piece of land:

Normandy• Normandy- is named after the French word

Viking: Norsemen or North Men

Map #1

Map #2

1066, William the Conqueror, Battle of Hastings

Websites:• http://www.allabout1066.net/

• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/england_medieval.htm

Climax

• In 1066 Battle of Hastings (England)Possible activities: newspaper article, Battle of

Hastings website game

Falling Actions

• Feudalism spreads throughout Europe (England)– Knights are given land– People live on manors, not in towns

Resolution/Denouement

• Big Idea/Theme (Role of Gov.)– Need for safety and stability leads to abuse of

individuals– Feudalism is more important than individual rights

(peasants)– Who should have more power: kings or pope? –

activity– Predictions for future events?