Introduction to the Middle Ages

11-1-2011 Drill & Objective

• Objective• Students will be able to

explain why the Fall of the Roman Empire brought about the emergence of the Middle Ages.

• Drill• Draw a KWL Chart. Tell

me what you know and want to know about the Middle Ages.

3 Eras in the Study of History

Ancient History• Everything we have done so far• Range: 1st Human History Early Middle

Ages

• The Middle Ages• This Chapter – One of the most interesting

time periods in history• Range: Fall of Roman Empire

Renaissance

• Modern History• Where we will spend most of the year• Range: The Renaissance & Beyond

A Brief History

• Fall of the Roman Empire• Divide into East & West• Decline in morals & values• Public Health• Political Corruption• Inflation• Unemployment• Urban Decay• Inferior Technology• Military Spending

• The Barbarians Invade• Germanic Tribes from the

North began to make their move into the Empire

• The Huns– Pushed Germanic Tribes

into Roman Territory – For a short time, became

allies of Rome, but soon revolted

– Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Franks and Angles/Saxons

• The Rise of Islam• Led to a series of wars known

as the Crusades

The Crusades Byzantine Empire

• Justinian– Emperor who wanted

to reestablish the Roman Empire» Was mostly

successful until Lombards conquered Italy

– Known for Codifying Roman Law

• New Threat from the East– Islam

» Unified Arab groups & created a powerful new force

» The threatened the Christian Byzantine Empire

The Crusades• A series of military

expeditions carried out by European Christians against the Muslims

• Pope Urban II– Used is power to rally

European warriors to liberate Jerusalem

• 4 Crusades from 1096-1204

• The only successful one was the 1st

Pope Urban II calls the first Crusade.

1095-1291

http://www.history.com/topics/crusades/videos#the-crusadeshttp://www.history.com/topics/crusades/videos#roots-of-the-crusades

" Jerusalem is now held captive by the enemies of Christ,

those who do not know God, the heathen (non Christians).

Jerusalem wants to be free and begs you to come help!

Who will take up this work, who will right these wrongs

who will recover this territory, if you won't ?"

Reasons for the Crusades Holy Land was holy to

Christians, Jews and Muslims (especially Jerusalem)

Place where Jesus was born and died

Looking for adventure and riches

Few opportunities in feudal Europe

Hatred of Muslims

Effects of Crusades

• fatal weakening of Byzantine Empire

• increase in cultural horizons for many Europeans

• stimulated Mediterranean trade.

• development of banking techniques

• Rise of heraldic emblems, coats of arms

• Romantic and imaginative literature

Effects of Crusades

• Knowledge introduced to Europe Heavy stone masonry, construction of

castles and stone churches.

Siege technology, tunneling, sapping.

Moslem minarets adopted as church spires

• Weakening of nobility, rise of merchant classes

• Enrichment was primarily from East to West--Europe had little to give in return.