Unit 6The Middle Ages

The Roman Empire FallsThe decline of the Roman

Empire led to the MIDDLE AGES – THE PERIOD IN EUROPEAN HISTORY FROM ABOUT 500 TO 1500

While Asia flourished, Europe fell apart

There was a: Disruption of trade Downfall of Cities Population shift

People Moved to rural areas

A shift in cultureDecline of Learning

Invaders do not read or write

No schools in the countryOnly Church officials read and write

Loss of a Common LanguageUse of Latin declinesLocal languages thrive

French, Spanish, etc.This adds to disunity

Government ChangesInvaders stressed personal loyalty and ties to local leaders

Unwritten laws governDon’t obey kings, government officials, etc.

Christianity spreadsCatholic Church adapts to rural lifestyle by building MONASTERIES – RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

Church’s power growsPope Gregory I made the pope’s office a secular – worldly power involved in government.

Charlemagne

A Frankish King who lived from 742 to 814 AD

Stressed the importance of education

Spread Christianity through his conquests

Reunited Europe once again under the largest empire since Ancient Rome

After Charlemagne died…

Civil War breaks outCharlemagne’s grandsons fight for the crown.

Empire is divided into three parts.

Charlemagne’s Empire Divided

The period after Charlemagne’s death would be the darkest time in European history…

The start of FeudalismPost-Charlemagne Europe is dangerous

Feudalism, which is based on mutual obligations, develops.

FEUDALISM – A POLITICAL SYSTEM IN WHICH NOBLES ARE GRANTED THE USE OF LANDS THAT LEGALLY BELONG TO THEIR KING, IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR LOYALTY, MILITARY SERVICE, AND PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE LAND.

How does Feudalism work?

Lords give Fiefs to VassalsLORD – LANDOWNER WHO GRANTS FIEFS.

FIEF – A PIECE OF LAND GRANTED TO A VASSAL.

VASSAL – THE PERSON RECEIVING THE FIEF; OFTEN A KNIGHT OR SERF.

SERFS – PEASANTS WHO COULD NOT LEGALLY LEAVE THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE BORN.

KNIGHTS – MOUNTED WARRIORS WHO PLEDGED TO DEFEND THEIR LORDS’ LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR A FIEF.

Class Structure

ManorsMANOR – THE LORD’S ESTATE

Made up of the lord’s manor house or castle, a church, serfs’ homes, farmland, and workshops.

How does a Manor work?

Lord provides serfs with housing, farmland, and protection.

Serfs take care of land and animals and pledge loyalty to lord.

Life as a SerfLived in crowded cottages.Simple diets – mostly breads

and soups (barley)Never left homeLots of restrictions

Women worked as hard as men.

Paid many taxes, including tithes – a church tax

Believed God determined their lives.

Why were there knights?Knights protected the lord’s

landThere were constant battles

between lords They were

rewarded with land

How to become a knight in 3 easy steps…

1) Become a page (Age 7)* Move to another castle* Learn courtly manners* Play chess* Practice sword fighting

2) Become a squire (Age 14)* Become servant to a knight* Take care of armor, horse and weapons* Escort knight to

battles

3) Knighthood (Age 21)

* Knighting Ceremony

How Knights LivedKnights lived by a code of

CHIVALRY – A COMPLEX CODE OF BEHAVIOR FOR KNIGHTS REQUIRING DEVOTION TO THE LORD, LADY, AND GOD AND STRESSING COURAGE, LOYALTY, AND DEVOTION.

The Knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood

To fear God and maintain His Church• To serve the liege lord in valour and faith

• To protect the weak and defenceless• To give succour to widows and orphans

• To refrain from the wanton giving of offence• To live by honour and for glory• To despise pecuniary reward• To fight for the welfare of all

• To obey those placed in authority• To guard the honour of fellow knights

• To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit• To keep faith

• At all times to speak the truth• To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

• To respect the honour of women• Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

• Never to turn the back upon a foe

Knights Also fought in mock battles called tournaments

These helped keep them trained for war

Warfare (p. 329)Defense

Boiling WaterHot Oil

Molten LeadCrossbows/

Arrows

OffenseMantlet

Siege TowerBattering Ram

TortoiseMangonelTrebuchet

Literature Downplayed real-life brutality of

the Middle Ages Glorified knights Idealized castles Characters showed

medieval ideals of courage and faith

Legend of King Arthur

In what ways does this painting capture the “Age

of Chivalry?”

The Crusades In 1093, the Byzantine

emperor called for help against invasion by Muslim Turks. “Come then, with all your people and give

battle with all your strength, so that all this treasure shall not fall into the hands of the Turks…Therefore act while there is still time lest the kingdom of the Christians shall vanish from your sight…And in your coming, you will find your reward in heaven, and if you do not come, God will condemn you.”

--Emperor Alexius Comnenus

In 1095 AD, the first crusade was called for by POPE URBAN II – THE POPE WHO CALLED FOR THE FIRST CRUSADE

CRUSADE – HOLY WARGoal: to recover Jerusalem

and the Holy Land from the Muslims

What drives the Crusades? Religion - Belief that God wills it Gets rid of troublesome knights who

fight each other Dead get a place in heaven Economic - Merchants profit from

making loans to finance CrusadesWant control of Muslim trade routes

Key playersSaladin(1138-1193)

Muslim leader

Devout, honest, braveConquered

Jerusalem

Richard the Lion-Hearted

(1157-1199)

English kingLeft England to

fight in Crusades

Ruthless defeat of Muslims at

Acre

Crusades Timeline 1097 – 1st Crusade – Christians

take Jerusalem 1144 – 2nd Crusade – Muslims

unsuccessful 1187 – Third Crusade – Jerusalem

reconquered by Muslims 1212 – Children’s Crusade

The Spanish Inquisition

The Reconquista - the effort by Christian leaders to drive the Muslims out of Spain led to many unjust trials and executions in Europe.

The church also got involved with the INQUISITION – CHURCH COURT THAT TRIED PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF HERESY IN THE 1400S IN SPAIN

Spanish Inquisition

Effects of the Crusades Hatred between Muslims and

Christians grows Thousands of deaths Trade grows between Europe

and Middle East Crusaders learn new

technology from Muslims Power of feudal nobles

weakens