Objectives: Describe Western Europe after Rome’s collapse. Describe how Germanic tribes carved Europe into small kingdoms. Explain how Charlemagne.

Objectives: Describe Western Europe after

Rome’s collapse. Describe how Germanic tribes

carved Europe into small kingdoms. Explain how Charlemagne briefly

reunited much of Western Europe and what happened to his empire after his death.

Western Europe in Decline

Post Roman Empire Political, social,

economic decline Dark Ages

Middle Ages 500 AD to 1500

AD

Middle Ages

What were the Middle Ages and what were they dominated by? Catholic Church rises in power Feudalism/Move away from cities Knights Lack of education Brought about by fall of Roman Empire

and different tribes leading to divisions.

The Franks

486, Clovis conquers Gaul

Clovis converted to Christianity

Gained allegiance of Christian Church in Rome

Importance?

“I take it very hard that these Arians hold part of Gaul. Let us go with God's help and conquer them and bring the land under our control.” Clovis -Belmont Univ.

Muslim Empires

Huge empire beginning to form through military and religious expansion.

Battle of Tours

Muslim army crossed into France

Charles Martel rallied Frankish warriors

Christians triumphed

Sign of God? Or Christian Savior?

Charlemagne

King of Franks Became known as

Charlemagne Reunites large parts

of Roman empire Further brings

Church and state together --> Christendom

Missi Dominicis Revival of Learning

and Latin culture

Pope Leo III

800 AD, Christmas Day

The Pope proclaimed Charlemagne “Emperor”. Why?

Revived “Christendom”

Future of political power struggles.

Legacy

Blended Germanic, Roman, and Christian traditions

Charlemagne’s three grandsons fought for power. Treaty of Verdun divided empire after civil war.

Lack of strong government led to what?

New Invaders

Muslim forces Created a

stronghold in Sicily

Magyars Vikings

Scandinavian raiders

1000 AD set up colony in North America

Feudalism and the Manor Economy 7.2

Feudalism

The invasions of the Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars weakened emperor’s ability to maintain law and order

Result? Feudalism▪ Organized system of rule in which powerful

local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords▪ Lesser lords (vassals), pledged service and loyalty to

the greater lord

Mutual Obligations

Feudal contract Lord granted his

vassal a fief (estate / land)▪ Peasants to work the

land were included

Promises

Lord promised to protect his vassal Vassal pledged loyalty to his lord

40 days of military service pledged

Structured Society

Monarch Powerful Lords (Dukes and Counts) – Largest fiefs▪ Vassals▪ Vassals had vassals

Knights

Knights – Mounted warriors Boy was slated to

be a Knight early Difficult training Tournaments a part

of life and training

Chivalry

Brave, loyal, and true to their word

Code of conduct developed by the Church to calm the knights down.

Code of Chivalry

To guard the honour of fellow knights To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit To keep faith At all times to speak the truth To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun To respect the honour of women Never to refuse a challenge from an equal Never to turn the back upon a foe

To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valour and faith To protect the weak and defenceless To give succour [assistance] to widows and orphans To refrain from the wanton [deliberate, unprovoked] giving of

offence To live by honour and for glory To despise pecuniary [monetary] reward To fight for the welfare of all To obey those placed in authority

Manor System

The lord’s estate Peasants referred

to as serfs Work the land and

manor Pay taxes Bound to the land Guaranteed food,

housing and land

Conclusion/Questions

Feudalism=political/social breakdown Manorialism=economic breakdown Fought, Prayed, or Worked, all dependent

upon birth What does this system resemble in terms

of other historical periods? Why would serfs agree to this system?

The Medieval Church

Village Church

Social center Largest public

building Took great pride in

their church buildings

Tithe – Christians required to pay a tenth of their income

Role of the Parish Priest

Only contact people had with the church

Celebrated mass Administered

sacraments