Ancient World History

Chapter 8

The Rise of Europe

Section 1

The Early Middle Ages

Geography of Western Europe

Rome linked great parts Europe, with roads, classical ideas, Latin language, and Christianity

Location Europe is relatively small – the second smallest in land

area of the seven continents

Resources From 500-1000 A.D. a frontier land

sparsely populated, underdeveloped area on the outskirts of a civilization

Rich in raising crops, fishing, mineral resources Seas and large rivers ideal for trade

The Germanic Kingdoms

Germanic tribes were farmers and herders Culture greatly different than Romans

No cities or codified laws Small communities with unwritten customs Kings ruled with warrior nobles

The Franks Strongest Germanic kingdom to emerge between

400-700 A.D. was the Franks 486 A.D., Clovis, King of Franks, conquered the former

Roman province of Gaul Clovis converted to Christianity, gaining support from

the Church of Rome

The Germanic Kingdoms (Con’t)

Europe and the Muslim World With emergence of Islam in 622, Christians in

Europe were stunned Islam was taking over the holy lands of Palestine

Islamic rulers took over Spain, but were defeated at the Battle of Tours

Ending the emergence of Islam into Europe

The Age of Charlemagne

Around 800 A.D. Charles the Great took over much of Europe from present-day France, Germany, and part of Italy

A Christian Emperor Pope Leo III called for support from Charlemagne for

help in Rome Pope showed gratitude by pacing a crown on

Charlemagne’s head and proclaiming him Emperor of the Romans

Revived the ideal of a united Christian community Also brought power struggle between future Roman

Catholic popes and Germanic Emperors

The Age of Charlemagne (Con’t)

Government Charlemagne exercise control over his many lands

and create a united Christian Europe Converted many conquered peoples

Charlemagne also appointed powerful nobles to rule local regions

Nobles were given land in order to support and supply soldiers to the army

He also sent out Missi Dominici officials who checked roads, listen to grievances, and

administer justice

The Age of Charlemagne (Con’t)

Revival of Learning Tried to revive Latin learning, and started a

school at Aachen They created a curriculum based on Latin learning

• Formal course of study• included grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry,

etc. Also copied ancient manuscripts, like bible Basis for the educational model for medieval

Europe

After Charlemagne

After Charlemagne’s death, empire was split by the Treaty of Verdun

Split the Empire into three regions

Legacy of Charlemagne He extended the Christian civilization into

northern Europe and blended German, Roman and Christian traditions

Set a strong model for an efficient government

After Charlemagne (Con’t

A New Wave of Invasions Despite the victory at the Battle of Tours,

Muslim invaders still continually gave Europeans problems

Magyars controlled Eastern Europe for roughly 50 years

Vikings looted and burned communities along the coasts and rivers of Europe

Vikings helped set up sea trade from northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea

Section 2

Feudalism and the Manor Economy

Invasions of Europe, 700–10001

The Emergence of Feudalism

Due to invasions from outsiders, European Emperors and Kings developed a new system called feudalism A loosely organized system of rule in which

powerful local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords

In exchange for their landholdings, vassals pledged service and loyalty to the greater lord

Lesser Lords

The Emergence of Feudalism (Con’t)

Mutual Obligations Lords and Vassals established a feudal contract

Exchange of pledges between a lords and vassals The Lord would grant the Vassal a fief

Estate Usually between a few acres to hundreds of acres

The Lord would also promise to protect the vassal In return, the Vassal promised 40 days of military service

and money payments

The Emergence of Feudalism (Con’t)

A Structured Society Monarchs at the top of the hierarchy, followed

by powerful lords Each Lord was followed by vassals Vassals had peasants to work the fiefs

The World of Nobles Warfare during this time was a way of life

Many nobles trained from boyhood to be a knight, or mounted warrior

Achieving Knighthood Age seven, a boy slated to become a knight was sent

away to the castle of this father’s lord He learned to ride and fight, keep his armor and weapons in

good shape, etc. Discipline was very strict

After training had finished, the young knight would be “dubbed” knights by an older knight

As warfare declined, knights began competing in tournaments

Could enter into contests of fighting skills

The World of Nobles (Con’t)

Castles Powerful lords built large walls around their

homes, with a moat, water filled ditch, for protection from outside invaders

Eventually by the 1100’s, these castles became larger and more grand

The World of Nobles (Con’t)

Noblewomen They played active roles in the warrior society When their husband or father were gone, they

were the “lady of the manor” Took care of the household, performed agricultural

tasks, and supervised vassals However their ability to inherit was very

limited Also expected to bear many children

The World of Nobles (Con’t)

Chivalry Later in the Middle Ages, knights developed a

code of conduct called chivalry Required knights to be brave, loyal and true to

their word Example: Show courtesy to a captured knight

Also placed women on a pedestal women were to be protect and cherished Troubadours adopted this view of women

• Wandering poets

Peasants and Manor Life The heart of the medieval economy was the

manor Lord’s estate, which also contained many serfs

Peasants bound to the land

Mutual Obligations Peasants and their lords were tied together by

mutual rights and obligations Peasants worked the farms on the lord’s land

• Repaired roads, bridges, and fences• Also paid taxes on different events

The Lord would give peasants several acres to grow food for themselves• Also gave protection from invaders to the peasants

Peasants and Manor Life (Con’t)

A Self-Sufficient World Manors were generally self-sufficient Very little to no schooling given to individuals

Peasant Life Most peasants worked long hours, especially during the

planting and harvesting seasons Diet consisted of black bread with vegetables and

seldom ate meat Very few peasants lived past the age of 35 due to hard

work and diseases Peasants did celebrate holidays such as Christmas,

Easter, birthdays, marriages They also received days off for some holidays

Section 3

The Medieval Church

The Church and Medieval Life During the early Middle Ages, the Church’s most

important achievement was to Christianize the diverse peoples of Western Europe

The Parish Priest Priest of the parish was usually the only contact people

had with the Church Priest celebrated the mass and administered the

sacraments The sacred rites of the Church Sacraments would lead to salvation, or everlasting life with

God Also helped the sick and needy

The Church and Medieval Life (Con’t)

The Village Church Church was a social center Later in the Middle Ages some churches were

built out of stone Some housed relics, or remains of martyrs or

holy figures Church required Christians to pay a tithe in

order to operate parishes tax equal to a tenth of their income

The Church and Medieval Life (Con’t)

Views of Women Church taught that men and women were

equal before God However treated women as weak and easily led

into sin Church members prayed to Mary, mother of Jesus

Monks and Nuns Individuals who withdrew from worldly life in

order to devote their lives to spiritual goals The Benedictine Rule

About 530 A.D. a monk named Benedict organized the monastery of Monte Casino in Italy

Became pattern for future monasteries Monks and Nuns took three vows

Obedience to the abbot or abbess, who headed the monastery

Poverty Chastity, or purity

Also required monks to worship, study, and do manual labor

Experimented with crops

Monks and Nuns (Con’t)

A Life of Service Monasteries were the hospitals and schools for the

time Gave food and lodging to travelers

Centers of Learning Often Monasteries and convents performed a vital

role in preserving the writings of the ancient world Priests and Nuns kept learning alive

Convents Women could not become priests, but could become

nuns Eventually convent power and rights were limited

The Power of the Church Grows

Christian Church gradually became the most powerful secular, or worldly force in medieval Europe

The Church and Feudal Society The Pope was the spiritual leader of the

Roman Catholic Church Eventually popes claimed papal supremacy

authority over all secular rulers There were high clergy such as bishops and

archbishops

The Power of the Church Grows (Con’t)

Religious Activity Christians believed that all people were sinners

and that many were doomed to eternal suffering In order to avoid hell, people had to believe in Christ

and participate in sacraments Medieval Church also developed the canon laws

body of laws Anyone who disobeyed church laws faced a

range of penalties Most severe was excommunication

• Could not receive the sacraments or a Christian burial Including Interdict

• Excommunication of a whole town

Reform Movements

Eventual problems arose over the growing wealth and power of the church officials

Cluniac Reforms By 1073 A.D., Pope Gregory VII, extended

reforms by ending simony and outlawing marriage for priest and nuns

selling of Church offices Also encouraged Churches to select their

leaders, as opposed to kings or nobles

Reform Movements (Con’t)

Preaching Orders Early 1200’s A.D., Francis of Assisi Dominic

set up the order of friars Monks who did not live in isolated monasteries but

traveled around Europe’s growing towns preaching to the poor

Stressed poverty, humility, and love of God

Jews in Europe Jews flourished in Spain during the Early Middle Ages

Jews preserved the oral and written laws that were central to their faith

Eventually as the Churches power grew, they began blaming the Jews for the death of Jesus

Forbidding Jews to own land or practice most occupations In bad times, anti-Semitism worsened throughout

Europe Prejudice against Jews

Due to being outlawed from other professions, many Jews became moneylenders and migrated to Eastern Europe

Section 4

Economic Expansion and Change

An Agricultural Revolution By 1000 A.D. European peasants had adapted

new farming technologies, which made their fields more productive

New Technologies By 800’s they began using iron plows that carved

deep into heavy soil Also began using harness that allowed horses to pull

plows Another major technology was a watermill and

windmill Expanding Production

Peasants adopted the three-field system, which rotated crops on fields, and left one field empty

Between 1000-1300 A.D. Europe’s population doubled

Trade Revives

Europe’s growing population needed goods that were hardly available on the manor

New Trade Routes Merchant companies formed groups that were

armed caravans, in order to maintain safety on the trade routes

Constantinople was a trading center for goods from the East

Trade Revives (Con’t)

Trade Fairs Initially trade fairs were local and along navigable

rivers People enjoyed seeing the goods and enjoying

entertainment New Towns

Slowly these small centers of trade developed into cities

Riches cities were in Italy Each town setup a charter with the king

written document that set out the rights and privileges of the town, including a fee to the lord or king

A Commercial Revolution

To support business, many merchants sought capital from moneylenders

Money for investment

New Business Practices To meet their needs, many people setup partnerships

with other merchants merchants that pooled their funds to finance a large-

scale venture Also created insurance systems to reduce business

risks Also adopted a bill of exchange

Money bill that would be accepted at another bank

A Commercial Revolution (Con’t)

Social Changes By 1300’s A.D. most peasants were tenant

farmers hired farm laborers, or paid rent for their land

There arose a new class, the middle class Merchants, traders and artisans who were between

the nobles and the peasants Church banned usury

Lending money with interest

Role of Guilds

Merchants and artisans formed associations known as guilds

Merchant guilds passed laws and levied taxes Craft guilds were created in opposition to the

wealthy Merchant guilds Prevented competition by limiting members to

guilds Also helped provide social services

Role of Guilds (Con’t)

Becoming a Guild Member At age of 7-8, a child would become an

apprentice Trainee to guild master Usually worked for seven years without pay

Then they became a journeymen Salaried worker for guild master

Role of Guilds (Con’t)

Women and the Guilds Women engaged in the same trade as their

father or husband and might inherit their workshop if they died

Women could also even become guild masters

Town and City Life

As cities grew, new walls had to be built to accommodate the larger population

Might contain a large cathedral or splendid guild hall

There were no garbage collections or sewer systems

Looking Ahead

Trade was greatly changing the landscape of Western Europe through the middle ages

During the High Middle Ages, cultural diffusion through trade with the east brought new and more advanced ideas that greatly change Europe