Middle Ages Middle Ages 1100 years – from the collapse 1100 years – from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the of the Roman Empire to the beginning of modern time beginning of modern time 4 4 th th – 14 – 14 th th Century Century Two dominant institutions Two dominant institutions – Feudalism Feudalism – Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church
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Middle Ages 1100 years – from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginning of modern time 4 th – 14 th Century Two dominant institutions –Feudalism.
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Middle AgesMiddle Ages
1100 years – from the collapse of the 1100 years – from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginning of modern Roman Empire to the beginning of modern timetime
44thth – 14 – 14thth Century Century Two dominant institutionsTwo dominant institutions
– FeudalismFeudalism– Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
FeudalismFeudalism
The operating principle is similar to that The operating principle is similar to that of the military chain-of-command of the military chain-of-command system.system.
A king owned all the land, which was A king owned all the land, which was then split up and given to great nobles then split up and given to great nobles in fiefs (a feudal estate).in fiefs (a feudal estate).
FeudalismFeudalism In return the noble pledged loyalty In return the noble pledged loyalty
(fealty) to the king.(fealty) to the king. In turn each noble divided the fief In turn each noble divided the fief
giving power to lesser nobles known giving power to lesser nobles known as vasals and so forth.as vasals and so forth.
FeudalismFeudalism
Serfs (peasants) were at the bottom of Serfs (peasants) were at the bottom of the social ladder and were bound to the the social ladder and were bound to the land.land.
Serfs were bought and sold with the Serfs were bought and sold with the land totally dependent on the lord of land totally dependent on the lord of the fief.the fief.
A knight first swore supreme allegiance to A knight first swore supreme allegiance to God – defending the Christian faith.God – defending the Christian faith.
He affirmed his loyalty to his liege lord.He affirmed his loyalty to his liege lord. Uphold laws of the realmUphold laws of the realm Bring honor through courage and fair battleBring honor through courage and fair battle Protect the weak/helpless –widows, Protect the weak/helpless –widows,
orphans, serfs, and all in distress.orphans, serfs, and all in distress.
LegendsLegends
Legendary Tales – neither pure history Legendary Tales – neither pure history nor pure fact, but a narrative that nor pure fact, but a narrative that includes both elements.includes both elements.
Not one correct story Not one correct story Usually several versionsUsually several versions
Extraordinary events are commonplaceExtraordinary events are commonplace– A hand holding a sword/appears in waterA hand holding a sword/appears in water– Spells and enchantmentsSpells and enchantments– Knights dueling for hoursKnights dueling for hours
Legend Requirements (b)Legend Requirements (b)
Heroes and villains are clearly definedHeroes and villains are clearly defined
–King Arthur = hero/ a model King Arthur = hero/ a model charactercharacter
–Sir Mordred = displays the dark side Sir Mordred = displays the dark side of human natureof human nature
Episodic ActionEpisodic Action– Focuses on different characters at different Focuses on different characters at different
pointspoints– When a knight sets out on a journey a new When a knight sets out on a journey a new
episode beginsepisode begins
Requirements (d)Requirements (d)
The hero starts a journeyThe hero starts a journey– A quest – search for somethingA quest – search for something
The stories often become intertwinedThe stories often become intertwined– The plots usually overlapThe plots usually overlap– A new story starts before the last ends.A new story starts before the last ends.
Sir Thomas Malory(1400 – 1471)Sir Thomas Malory(1400 – 1471)
Little is known about him except for his Little is known about him except for his prison record.prison record.– Breaking and enteringBreaking and entering– PlunderingPlundering– ExtortionExtortion
Malory was involved in the conflicts of his Malory was involved in the conflicts of his time specifically the War of Roses between time specifically the War of Roses between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose).House of York (white rose).
Sir Thomas Malory teaches virtue and honor Sir Thomas Malory teaches virtue and honor by showing the difference between good by showing the difference between good and bad.and bad.
Good does not equal perfect, all characters Good does not equal perfect, all characters have some kind of human weaknesses.have some kind of human weaknesses.
Le Morte d’ ArthurLe Morte d’ Arthur
Was written while he was in prison. He Was written while he was in prison. He finished his work in 1469 – 1470, shortly finished his work in 1469 – 1470, shortly before he died. It was one of the first to be before he died. It was one of the first to be published on William Caxton’s newly published on William Caxton’s newly invented printing press. invented printing press.
However, medieval tales often reveal However, medieval tales often reveal some realistic aspects of life in the Middle some realistic aspects of life in the Middle Ages.Ages.– Life was crude, barbaric, and even cruel.Life was crude, barbaric, and even cruel.– Fair play is often forgotten in the struggle for Fair play is often forgotten in the struggle for
power.power.– Loyalty to the liege lord was put aside in favor Loyalty to the liege lord was put aside in favor
of gainful plots.of gainful plots.– Knightly protection was often reserved for Knightly protection was often reserved for
women of class.women of class.
The ChurchThe Church
The church was also organized along feudal The church was also organized along feudal lines. lines.
The Pope was the head of the church more The Pope was the head of the church more powerful than a king or emperorpowerful than a king or emperor
On the lowest rung of hierarchy was the On the lowest rung of hierarchy was the parish priest – most often poor and parish priest – most often poor and uneducateduneducated
12 -1312 -13thth Century Century
Breakdown of the feudal systemBreakdown of the feudal system– Guilds – trade unions of a sort, which took Guilds – trade unions of a sort, which took
control of all trades and craftscontrol of all trades and crafts– Workers began as an apprentice with a master Workers began as an apprentice with a master
craftsman and after seven years were able to craftsman and after seven years were able to open their own business and earn moneyopen their own business and earn money
Middle Age StrifeMiddle Age Strife
Battles among royalty Battles among royalty Religious WarsReligious Wars Border WarsBorder Wars Wars of royal Wars of royal
successionsuccession
Bandits and outlawsBandits and outlaws Thuggery, Thuggery, Street fightingStreet fighting DuelingDueling
Crusades and InvasionsCrusades and Invasions
England by the Anglo-Saxons = 5England by the Anglo-Saxons = 5thth & 6 & 6thth C. C. William of Normandy = 1066William of Normandy = 1066 Invasion of Spain by the African Moors = Invasion of Spain by the African Moors =
711711 Counter invasions of the Moslem East by Counter invasions of the Moslem East by
Christian powers to the Holy LandChristian powers to the Holy Land
CrusadesCrusades
Seven Crusades in all – 1096 – 1270Seven Crusades in all – 1096 – 1270 Pros –Pros –
– Longings for luxuries such as silk, spices, Longings for luxuries such as silk, spices, perfumes, jewelry, bathsperfumes, jewelry, baths
Cons – Cons – – Brought misery, plague and deathBrought misery, plague and death
The Black Plague – Disaster strikes The Black Plague – Disaster strikes between 1100 to 1352between 1100 to 1352
1000100038 mill.38 mill. 1100 1100 48 mill.48 mill. 1200120059 mill.59 mill. 1300130070 mill.70 mill. 1347134775 mill.75 mill. 1352135250 mill.50 mill. 25 mill. People died in just under five years25 mill. People died in just under five years
swordfighting, stone throwing, hammer swordfighting, stone throwing, hammer throwingthrowing
DramaDrama
Church sponsored plays such as the miracle Church sponsored plays such as the miracle playplay
Comedy was added and changed the plays Comedy was added and changed the plays to morality playsto morality plays
Additional EntertainmentAdditional Entertainment
Street fairs – Medieval fairsStreet fairs – Medieval fairs Bear baitingBear baiting Hanging of malefactorsHanging of malefactors Burning of “witches”Burning of “witches”
Literature of the PeriodLiterature of the Period
TWO CATEGORIESTWO CATEGORIES– Songs and stories that sprang from the peopleSongs and stories that sprang from the people– Literature of the nobility or the literature of Literature of the nobility or the literature of
chivalrychivalry
Authors of the Late Middle AgesAuthors of the Late Middle Ages
Age of Transition – vast changes Age of Transition – vast changes and momentous events ushered in and momentous events ushered in
the modern world.the modern world. The discovery and exploration of a new The discovery and exploration of a new
continentcontinent The Protestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation The Revival of learningThe Revival of learning The Growth of nationalism The Growth of nationalism The rise of a merchant (middle) classThe rise of a merchant (middle) class