Life after Charlemagne
Feudalism and Manorialism
The fall of the Carolingian Empire Louis the Pious (814-840)
Charlemagne’s son Character The Arrangement of the Empire 817
causes a civil war between his 4 sons The Treaty of Verdun (843) Charles the Bald, Louis the
German and Lothar They were all too weak to keep local
lords in check (used land to gain favors)
The Treaty of Verdun
Feudalism Accelerated by the invasions of the
9th Century Vikings Magyars (Hungary) Muslims
New social order needed because Kings and Emperors could no longer protect people
Feudalism:The new political order
The basis is the fief which was granted by a lord to a vassal Vassals swore an oath of Fealty and
promised military service Other duties Vassals could become lords Result: Political power became property
for great counts and lords
Mutual Obligations Feudal contract
Lord granted his vassal a fief (estate / land)
Peasants to work the land were included as part of the fief
Manorialism:The new economic order
The role of the Serf (Servile) Obligations
3 days a work days a week, maintain the manor, they belong to manor
Must pay to use services, a tax to both the lord and the Church (Tithe)
Subject to the lords justice, not really free They received a small plot for themselves
(Approx. 1 acre) The Manor…self sufficient…no real trade
Barter System
Knights,Chivalry and Castles Knights
Chivalry Began as a squire Attempt to win land (how)
Castles From wood to stone Attack Defense
Knights Knights – Mounted
warriors Age of 7
Boy was slated to be a Knight
Difficult training as a Squire
Structured discipline
Chivalry
The Medieval Church
Chapter 7 section 3
The Expanded Role of the Clergy
Early Caesaropapism: Popes of this time were forced to assume both temporal and spiritual authority Doctrine of Papal supremacy Pope Gregory the Great (590-614) (Chant)
exercised independent Temporal power (ex: helped the poor)
The importance of the Church Center of town life (all important events
happen there) Rise of cathedrals
Romanesque v. Gothic Architecture
Romanesque Architecture: 11th and 12th Centuries Fortress like appearance, rounded arch,
heavy ceilings to support massive thick walls, small windows very little light or color
Gothic Architecture (Began in the late 1100’s) Between 1180 and 1270 80 Gothic
Cathedrals were built in France Pointed arches (flying buttresses) high
ceilings, thin walls, stained glass windows, light, color
Church Influence Canon Law – based on
religious teachings, governed many aspects of life, including wills, marriages, and morals
Disobey? Excommunication Interdict
Excluding an entire town/region/kingdom from receiving sacraments
Monastic life St. Benedict (Monte Cassino 529):
The rules for monastic life The Role of Monks and Nuns
Manuscript illumination Missionary work (St. Boniface) Hospitals, education of farmers
Corruption and Reform As power grew
discipline weakened
Wealth and positions of power began to corrupt the intentions of the Church Lay Investiture Simony Marriage, etc.