The Middle Ages. The Roman Empire Post-Roman Empire.

The Middle Ages

The Roman Empire

Post-Roman Empire

Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE EAST

Byzantine Empire (330 AD – 1453 AD) Considered themselves as a continuation of Rome Focused control in the eastern Mediterranean

Emphasis on trade – great wealth – What was their trade advantage?

Justinian I (527 – 565 AD) Created Justinian Code

Set of thousands of laws built upon the Roman tradition Influenced much of modern law today

Merit based government – What does this mean? People were promoted based upon skill – Why is this better?

Wife – Theodora Influential in bringing fairness to women and non-Orthodox

Christians

Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE EAST

Rift in the Church Many in Eastern Europe remained literate and practiced

Orthodox Christianity Orthodox – “officially accepted” based upon Gospels, other writings

Many in Western Europe were illiterate and varied in their practice of Christianity

Conflict arises over use of icons Icons – holy pictures of Jesus and the saints Many in the East thought icons went against the 10 commandments Commandment against “false idols” - click here Why might many people have liked to use icons?

Conflict grows and results in split in Christian Church in 1054 into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic

Constantinople falls to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453

Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE WEST

The Middle Ages Usually measured from around 500 – 1500 AD - 1000

years a.k.a. Medieval Period

Germanic invasions lead to: Disruption of Trade

Economic collapse – Why is trade important to the economy?

Downfall of Cities Cultural/Political collapse No more central government or military protection

Population shifts Urban to Rural – Why?

Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE WEST

Germanic invasions lead to: (cont’d) Germans had no written language

Loss of scholarship, literacy Latin was no longer a common language

Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) preferred Greek As people went rural, dialects formed – What is a dialect? French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian developed

Germanic Kingdoms Much smaller, decentralized Franks, Goths, Vandals, etc. Franks adopt Christianity under Clovis – Why?

Rise of the influence of the Church With no central power, the Church steps up into the power

void The Church begins to become more political – Is this good?

Bad?

Middle Ages - Carolingians

Monastaries Centers of learning and culture Monks remained literate, copied books by hand

Franks build a kingdom With help from a Christian Church growing in

power and influence – What is the benefit of the Church as an ally?

Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) Expands Frankish (Carolingian) Empire Holds off Muslim invaders – Importance? Military Genius Father of the Middle Ages

Middle Ages - Carolingians

Charlemagne Charles Martel’s grandson Expanded empire to be largest in Europe at the

time During his reign, united most of Western Europe

for the first time since the Romans Pope Leo III crowned him “Roman Emperor”

The story says that the Pope did this as a surprise as Charlemagne knelt to pray – What is the implication?

Final strong ruler before feudalism

Carolingian Empire

Leading Toward Feudalism

Treaty of Verdun Charlemagne’s grandsons split up the empire,

leaving no central authority in Western Europe

A weaker Europe becomes more susceptible to invasion – Who could invade?

Vikings – From the north Scandinavian warrior explorers, skilled

sailors First Europeans to sail to North America

Leif Erikson – set up settlement in Newfoundland

Stayed for around 10 years

Leading Toward Feudalism

Magyars – From the East Nomadic Hungarians Possible descendants of Huns Skilled horsemen

Muslims – From the South (Africa and Middle East) Growing empire Jihad – What does Jihad mean?

“Inner struggle” alternate interpretation as “outward struggle against non-believers”

Invading Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims What would life be like in this environment? Created constant danger for Europeans Far flung kings could not provide protection for a widespread

people – What could people do? People looked for local protection - FEUDALISM

Leading Toward Feudalism

Feudalism - Structure

Feudalism existed as a way of protecting economic interests

King grants land to a Noble as a sort of treaty Noble becomes Lord of the land Land grants were called fiefs

Lord could keep all of the land or grant portions of his land (fiefs) to Vassals and/or Knights as a second agreement Knights were military men

Manors, self sufficient farm villages, were lived on and worked on by servant peasants called serfs For the right to farm the land, the serfs must give back much

of what they grow

Feudalism

Life as a Feudal Serf

Responsibilities

Restrictions

Rights/FreedomsFarming

cropsRaising

animalsGrain taxMarriage taxChurch tax

Tithe – 1/10 of income

Obey the Lord’s rules

HousingProtectionFood…………………

Can’t leaveCan’t marry

without permission

Simple dietSmall living

spaceHarsh

penalties for breaking rules

Knighthood

Around age 7 – Page Castle servant, trained in fighting

Around age 14 – Squire A knight’s apprentice

Around age 21 – Knight Full-fledged

Chivalry Loyalty to:

Feudal lord Heavenly lord Chosen Lady

Art Inspired By Knighthood

Epic Poems Ex:

Beowulf The Song of Roland The Legend of King Arthur (various)

Love Poems and Songs Born out of a knight’s devotion to his lady Troubadours – traveling poet-musicians

The Age of Chivalry

The Middle Ages were an era of constant fighting between nobles over land and wealth

Knights fought for nobles in exchange for land

Military advancements: Saddles Stirrups Battering Ram Mangonel Trebuchet Siege Tower

The Church

All of Western Europe was Christian… leading to a huge growth in the power of the Church

Canon Law – Church law covering religious practices

Structure of the Church: Pope – Head of the Church Bishops – Regional leaders Priests – Local authority What can happen when someone has a lot of power?

The Church

Germanic peoples united to create the Holy Roman Empire in 962 Otto I defeats the invading Magyars and unites central Europe 162 years after Charlemagne, Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the

Pope – Why title it Holy Roman Empire when it’s a bunch of Germans? Not much of an empire Lasted in some form until 1806

The two main powers in the Middle Ages were the Church and the Empire – Why doesn’t the empire get rid of the Church? The Emperor was the head of government power The Pope was the head of religious power Often the two would clash

The Emperor could attempt to appoint regional bishops and priests, infringing on Church power

The Pope could excommunicate the Emperor, affecting the people of his reign

The Crusades

Armed pilgrimages of Christian Europeans To attack the holy land, Muslims, other non-Christians…

eventually, whatever they wantFirst Crusade began in 1095

Christians gained control of the holy lands, only to lose them back to the Muslims shortly thereafter

Different Crusades continued through the 1400’s At least 9 different crusades of varying size and success

The Crusades were probably just as much about power, influence, and wealth as they were about religion Although those participating DEFINITELY thought they were doing

God’s will – as did the Muslim defenders Who was right?

Development of England

Magna Carta - 1215 English nobles revolted against King John’s rule Weakened the throne Guaranteed certain basic rights:

No taxation without representation Trial by jury Protection under law – Sound familiar? Why would the King sign this?

Parliament is formed in 1295 by King Edward Legislative body to speak for the people Called citizens, knights, bishops, and lords to serve – True

representation? Called any time a new tax was needed House of Lords, House of Commons

Development of France

Estates-General is formed by King Philip IV in 1302 Created to gather support in a dispute with the

Catholic Church Primary role was to advise the King Why does this make sense for the king? Made up of: --Guesses???--

First Estate – Church leaders – Why were they the first estate?

Second Estate – Nobility Third Estate – Commoners, mostly merchants Why is the Third Estate a big deal?

Want to see some drama?

Commercial Revolution

Growth in agriculture and craftsmanship led to a growth in trade

Markets and Fairs – more travelInternational Trade

Especially regional sea trade – Where?Rise of a wealthy merchant class

Between Nobles and PeasantsCredit, Checks, Borrowing

All became commonTransition from the manor back into the town/city

A Weakened Church

Council of Constance New Pope elected, others forced to resign The Church loses a lot of momentum Where will people turn?

John Wycliffe – thinker/reformer Jesus is the authority, not the Pope

Jan Hus – thinker/reformer The Bible is the authority, not the Pope

The Church had no answer for…

THE BLACK DEATH

Tell me about the Black Death – At least 5 sentences.

Bubonic Plague

Came to Europe from Asia through Italian merchant shipsEntered Europe in 1347, had spread throughout by 1351 –

How?Caused by bacteria – Yersinia Pestis – spread by fleas – How?One Third of European population diedThis was the first, and most devastating, of many outbreaks of

the plagueSeen by many as the end of the world, or as God’s punishment

Why? Symptoms:

Swollen lymph glands (buboes) in neck, armpit, and groin regions Blackening of flesh due to gangrene Fever Vomiting blood Death within 2-7 days

How did this lead to the weakening of the Church?

Transmission

Why did it spread so fast?

Yersinia Pestis

Carried in the bloodstream of rodents in central Asia

Often transmitted through fleas

Buboes

The “Black” Death

The Modern Plague

Hundred Years’ War

War between England and France over control of the French throne

1337 – 1453Rise of the Longbow

Up to 200 yard rangeFall of the Age of Chivalry

Knights/Cavalry not as importantFrance eventually winsRise of nationalism

Why did Feudalism end?

Here are some reasons… Weakening of the Church Commercial Revolution and rise of the merchant class

Created a middle class, disrupting the structure of loyalties

The Black Death With fewer people to farm, etc… people could demand

higher wages Hundred Years War and rise of Nationalism

Power consolidated with the central Kings, rather than regional Nobles