Medieval Medieval EuropeEurope

(500 – 1500)(500 – 1500)

The Middle Ages or Medieval Europe is the

1,000 year period after the fall of Rome and before the

Renaissance.

I. Geography:A. Europe is on the western end of Eurasia.

B. Natural Resources:

• Dense forests• Fertile soil• Rich minerals• Seas

Fall of Rome

Dark Ages in W. Europe

Tribal Warfare

Money is no longer used

Cities disappeared

Advances made by Greece & Rome forgotten

Trade collapsed

No central gov’t

Weak local gov’ts

Literacy declined

A. Farmers and herders1. No written laws 2. Divided W. Europe into small

kingdoms

Not these Franks!

B. The Franks

1. The most powerful Germanic tribe in Gaul, or present-day France.

2. Clovis

• King of the Franks

• He converted to Christianity

• The Roman Catholic Church becomes his ally (supporter)

3. The Battle of Tours- In 732 CE, the Franks defeated the Muslims in

Spain.

• This stopped Muslims from advancing into W. Europe.

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Christians did not want Islam to spread into Europe, even though they learned science and math from Arab Muslims.

C. Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

1. In 800 CE, he became king of the Franks2. Pope Leo III named him emperor

3. His empire united Europe.

4. Legacy• He spread Christianity• He blended Christian, Roman and German

traditions• He formed an efficient gov’t

• Charlemagne tried to revive learning

• He set up schools to educate officials and children.

Edumacation!

Curriculums, or formal courses of study, included reading, grammar, math, music, and astronomy.

Don’t write this!

D. New Attacks1. After Charlemagne’s death in 814 CE, Muslims, Magyars and Vikings attacked.

Peace Out, Charlemagne!

When Charlemagne died in 814, his empire fell apart as his heirs fought over it.

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2. 843 CE- The Treaty of Verdun divided the empire into three kingdoms.

3. This became the Holy Roman Empire.

Life in Medieval Life in Medieval EuropeEurope

(500 – 1500 CE)(500 – 1500 CE)

I. Political A. Feudalism- A political system which exchanges land for military

service.

– King gives lord (vassal) a fief (land). In exchange, the lord (vassal) gives the king his loyalty and protection when needed.

– Lords gradually became more powerful than kings as they acquired more land.

King or lord

Required to give:

-Fief (land)

Feudalism

Vassal or lord

Required to give:

-loyalty

-military service

B. Social• Kings and Lords were at the top of

the social hierarchy.

• Knights- mounted warriors–Chivalry- code of conduct for knights –be brave, loyal, polite

• Feudal lords battled constantly for power and land

• By the 1100’s, fighting declined so lords held tournaments (fake battles) to entertain people.

• Serfs- peasants who worked the lord’s land –They could not leave without permission

–They paid the lord rent in food and labor (no $$) for use of the land and protection.

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• Role of Women

– Noblewomen managed the household and were in change when men were away.

– Rights:• Received a limited inheritance

• Arranged marriages, expected to have many kids

• Few knew how to read and write

• Chivalry raised women to a new status. They were protected and cherished.

C. EconomicManorialism-

an economy where land, not money, is the basis of wealth

Manor- the lord’s estate including the town, peasant houses, church, and fields- It was self-sufficient, which led to a decline

in trade

• Three-field system- two fields planted, one left fallow fallow (empty) to regain fertility

Europe was isolated BUT, there were advanced civilizations in the Middle East, South Asia, and China!