The Making of Medieval Europe

Chapter 8 Part 2

EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE

Conquests

• Frankish empire at its greatest–Most land under

1 ruler since Roman Empire

• Laid foundations for modern day Europe

• Defeated Saxons

Coronation of Charlemagne

• Proclaimed “Roman Emperor” –Wanted to restore the glory of

the Roman Empire– Crowned by the pope• Did Charlemagne know or not? • Both benefitted from this

coronation– Pope got protection– Charlemagne got title of Holy

Roman Emperor

Revival of Learning

• Charlemagne loved learning and promoted education

• Aachen = center of learning with best scholars in Europe– Alcuin- most distinguished scholar • From York, England

• * What other ruler was taught by best scholar in the land?

Who had controlled learning before?

What Does This Foreshadow?

Learning in the Church

• Charlemagne encouraged clergy to study Bible more

• Renewed interest in Bible and classical texts

• * Preservation of them• Monasteries = print houses, libraries – Study, copy, preserve ancient texts– Carolingian miniscule was developed out

of need for smaller more compact print• Shortage of material to write on

4th to 9th century AD Writing

8th to 12th century AD Carolingian Miniscule

Scriptorium- a room devoted to the hand-

lettered copying of

manuscripts

Breakup of Charlemagne Empire

• Trouble within– Charlemagne sons split

empire into 3 areas– What countries come

from each area?

• Charlemagne descendants = weak leaders– Louis the Stammerer– Charles the Fat– Louis the Child– Charles the Simple

Invasions from Outside

• 9th- 10th centuries foreign invaders– Muslims - North Africa– Magyars- South Eastern

Europe (Hungarians)– Vikings (Norsemen)-

North Europe• Norway, Sweden,

Denmark

– Attacked and destroyed villages and churches

– Set them on fire– Motivated people to start

building from stone

Early Medieval Castle

Reasons for Viking Invasions

1. Little arable land in Scandinavian Countries – Primogeniture custom- land

handed down to first born son (younger sons without land)

2. Greed3. Charlemagne subdued all

Viking’s enemies, leaving them free to attack Europe

Feudalism

• 9th to 13th centuries (800s- 1200s)• Powerful nobles replaced weak

ineffective kings– Noble - peasants protection– Peasants worked noble– Provided relative order in this chaotic time– King granted land to nobles in exchange for

military service (fief)• Noble DID NOT own the land, just kept it as

payment for his services

Relationships

• Feudalism based on = relation between lord and vassal– Homage = ceremony by which becomes

vassal in front of many witnesses• Speak Oath • Clasp hands • Kiss

– Lord give stick or some dirt symbolizes giving him the land (investiture)

Obligations

Lord• Gives land to vassal• Gives protection to

vassal• Gives justice to vassal

Vassal• Military service to lord• Financial “aid” on

special occasions (knighthoods, marriages)

• Gives advice to lord• Pay ransom if lord is

captured• Could be vassal to

more than one lord (complicates life)

Life of NobilityHome

Courthouse & Jail

Treasury

Armory

Court

Seat of Government

Damp and cold

Dark and gloomy

Castles

• Primary function = defense• Lord’s responsibility to protect

inhabitants of his land– Peasants fled to castle when danger came

near

• 10th century castle (Disney Castle)– High stone walls–Moats– Towering battlements– Drawbridges

Disney Castles modeled after Medieval castles

Knighthood

• Early Middle Ages- open to anyone who can afford it– Later- reserved for Nobility

• Training start at age 7 (Academics & Skills)

• Mid teens- Squire (personal servant to knight)– Care for armor, horse & weapons

• Age 21- eligible for knighthood– On battle field or in ceremony

Code of Chivalry

• Knight promised to live by strict code of behavior– Brave in battle– Skillful with weapons– Honest and generous– Loyal to lord– Never attack unarmed knight– Churched added spiritual responsibility to code

of chivalry (protect church & venerate priesthood)• Peace of God = forbade pillaging of church property• Protection to non combatant people

•What is a skill that you used to have a long time ago but now you don’t have it anymore?

Jousts & Tournaments

• Knights to use their skills during peacetime– Tournaments = pretend war• Joust – individual • Melee – group competition

• Satisfied desire for excitement and entertainment–What other people had entertainment

where showed off fighting skills?

The Manor

• Self contained faming community– Ruled by lords–Worked by peasants

• Trade, towns, and money decreased• Most people lived on large estates in

countryside– Self sufficient met all daily needs of

those who lived there• Imported salt, iron and tar

Every manor had:

• Priest• Skilled workers– Craftsman– Furniture maker– Shoe maker– Tool maker– Clothe maker

• Laborers:–Make their own

clothes– Grow their own

crops–Make their own

houses– Build their own

roads and bridges

Description of a Manor

1. Village in center (near stream or crossroads)2. Peasants live in clusters of huts3. Lord’s House (Castle or Wooden House)– Up on a hill or defensible area

4. Church and Priest’s House– Tall steeple (to direct eyes towards heaven)– Courthouse– Town meetings– Social gatherings– Streams, woodlands and fields for providing food

Farming the Fields• Early, two field system; later, three

field system– Increased productivity of land

Charlemagne’s ThroneTypical Medieval kitchen- notice the HUGE fireplace

Typical arrangement for eating in the Great Hall

People

• Class structure:– Clergy- spiritual needs– Nobility- protection and justice– Peasants- produce food– * Freemen = peasants with specialized skills

• Blacksmith• Miller• Carpenter• Did not have to work the lord’s land• Could leave and move elsewhere

Serf

• Had use of land from Lord– Could grow food and provide for his family

• Tied to the land – could not leave without permission of lord

• Had to work on lord’s portion of the land (demesne)– Plow, sow, and harvest– Gather hay & care for lord’s cattle– Build fences, clear woodlands, etc. (week work)– Most peasants never left the manor land

• Not further than 25 miles away from home

Daily Life

Poverty & Misery

Famines & Poor

Diet

Feudal Wars & Invasion

Strenuous Labor