The Middle Ages

Europe After the Fall of Rome

After Rome fell, people in Europe live in many

different areas and groups

Many areas were controlled by warlords

Several small kingdoms were established in Europe

The Franks were the most powerful group to emerge

Charles the Great (Charlemagne) was the most powerful

Frankish leader

Eventually crowned by Pope Leo III as the new Emperor

of the Romans

Invaders

Many barbarian groups were still traveling around

Europe and causing problems

Most fearsome group was the Vikings

Most nobles could not count on protection from their

king

Developed a new system for society: Feudalism

Feudalism – People provide work or military service to a

noble in return for the use of his land

Feudalism

Kings gave their land to nobles

These pieces of land were called fiefs

Nobles gave their land to knights

Knights who were loyal to nobles were called vassals

People who worked the land for the knights = serfs

Serfs could not leave the land on which they worked

Feudalism Feudalism spread all throughout Europe during the

Middle Ages

Spread as people were conquered

William the Conqueror took over England in 1066

Battle of Hastings

As a result of feudalism, towns grew

New inventions led to more food = less farmers

Trade expanded, people wanted to make money in cities

Popes and Kings

Popes (leaders of the Christian Church) worked very

hard to spread Christianity

Eventually, almost everyone in Europe was Christian

Popes became powerful leaders, along with kings

Kings and popes controlled all of society

Popes lived like royalty and were very wealthy

Popes and Kings

One Empire established during the Middle Ages was

the Holy Roman Empire

Popes led this empire, but there was an Emperor

Emperors were supposed to protect the Pope

Often, Popes, Kings, and Emperors fought for power

and control

The Crusades

During the Middle Ages, Muslims controlled the Holy

Land and the Christians wanted it back

Popes called on Christians to capture the Holy Land

These attempts were called Crusades

There several Crusades (at least 8)

None of the Crusades were very successful

Crusades had many effects:

Increased trade, new ideas and inventions

Tension between Religious Groups

Political and Social Change

In 1215, England commoners forced King John to

sign the Magna Carta

This document guaranteed rights to common people

Everyone had to follow the law (even the king)

Many ideas from the Magna Carta are in the US Constitution

From 1328 – 1453: Hundred Years’ War

England wanted to take over France

French finally pushed England out France in 1453

Political and Social Change

The Black Death (1347 – 1351) was one of the most

disastrous events in the Middle Ages

In 4 years, 25 million people were killed by disease

Disease went from rats fleas people

The Black Death basically ends feudalism and towns

continue to grow