chapter 7. what marks the beginning of the middle ages? fall of rome after the fall we see...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 7
What marks the beginning of the Middle Ages?Fall of RomeAfter the fall we see political, social, and
economic declineEurope was cut off from the rest of the
world The culture of this period > called the
Medieval civilization
Various Germanic kingdoms set up Goths, Vandals, Saxons,
and Franks Different from Romans >
they were farmers and herders
Divided Western Europe into smaller kingdoms
New power emerging across the Mediterranean Religion of Islam Battle of Tours > Charles
Martel > Frankish king > stops Muslim advance into France
King of the Franks > Charlemagne > Charles the GreatReunites much of western Roman empire
Charlemagne’s Achievements
MagyarsSettled in present-day
HungaryControlled much of
Eastern Europe Vikings
Home > Scandinavia? Norway, Denmark, and
SwedenFarmers, expert sailors,
destructive raiders, traders, & explorers
Medieval society > network of mutual obligations
Feudalism Arose out of the need for protection Loosely organized system of rule in which powerful
local lords divided their landholdings among lesser lords (vassals)
Varied from place to place
Feudal contract Exchange of pledges Vassal granted a fief (estate) which included
peasants Lord promised vassal protection for his loyalty
& military service
Monarch Powerful lords
Dukes and Counts Vassals (lesser lords)
Lords battled with each other Knights
Mounted warrior >usually fought on horseback Training difficult
Mock battles > tournaments Defended castle (home of the lord)
Code of Chivalry Knights code of conduct
Standard for behavior Bravery, loyalty, fairness in battle, etc.
Troubadours Wandering musicians > sang about the deeds of
knights Basis for epic stories and poems
Heart of the medieval economy > manor (lord’s estate) One or more villages and the surrounding land
Most peasants on manor were serfs (bound to the land) Tied to the lord through mutual rights and obligations Farmed the lord’s land in return they were protected Peasants guaranteed food, housing, and land
Manor > self-sufficient Everything was produced there that was needed to live
Peasant life was harsh Long working hours Poor harvest = starvation Disease was common