Post on 22-Jan-2016
The Middle Ages
The Roman Empire
Post-Roman Empire
Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE EAST
Byzantine Empire (330 AD – 1453 AD) Considered themselves as a continuation of Rome Focused control in the eastern Mediterranean
Emphasis on trade – great wealth – What was their trade advantage?
Justinian I (527 – 565 AD) Created Justinian Code
Set of thousands of laws built upon the Roman tradition Influenced much of modern law today
Merit based government – What does this mean? People were promoted based upon skill – Why is this better?
Wife – Theodora Influential in bringing fairness to women and non-Orthodox
Christians
Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE EAST
Rift in the Church Many in Eastern Europe remained literate and practiced
Orthodox Christianity Orthodox – “officially accepted” based upon Gospels, other writings
Many in Western Europe were illiterate and varied in their practice of Christianity
Conflict arises over use of icons Icons – holy pictures of Jesus and the saints Many in the East thought icons went against the 10 commandments Commandment against “false idols” - click here Why might many people have liked to use icons?
Conflict grows and results in split in Christian Church in 1054 into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic
Constantinople falls to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453
Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE WEST
The Middle Ages Usually measured from around 500 – 1500 AD - 1000
years a.k.a. Medieval Period
Germanic invasions lead to: Disruption of Trade
Economic collapse – Why is trade important to the economy?
Downfall of Cities Cultural/Political collapse No more central government or military protection
Population shifts Urban to Rural – Why?
Europe Post-Roman Empire – IN THE WEST
Germanic invasions lead to: (cont’d) Germans had no written language
Loss of scholarship, literacy Latin was no longer a common language
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) preferred Greek As people went rural, dialects formed – What is a dialect? French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian developed
Germanic Kingdoms Much smaller, decentralized Franks, Goths, Vandals, etc. Franks adopt Christianity under Clovis – Why?
Rise of the influence of the Church With no central power, the Church steps up into the power
void The Church begins to become more political – Is this good?
Bad?
Middle Ages - Carolingians
Monastaries Centers of learning and culture Monks remained literate, copied books by hand
Franks build a kingdom With help from a Christian Church growing in
power and influence – What is the benefit of the Church as an ally?
Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) Expands Frankish (Carolingian) Empire Holds off Muslim invaders – Importance? Military Genius Father of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages - Carolingians
Charlemagne Charles Martel’s grandson Expanded empire to be largest in Europe at the
time During his reign, united most of Western Europe
for the first time since the Romans Pope Leo III crowned him “Roman Emperor”
The story says that the Pope did this as a surprise as Charlemagne knelt to pray – What is the implication?
Final strong ruler before feudalism
Carolingian Empire
Leading Toward Feudalism
Treaty of Verdun Charlemagne’s grandsons split up the empire,
leaving no central authority in Western Europe
A weaker Europe becomes more susceptible to invasion – Who could invade?
Vikings – From the north Scandinavian warrior explorers, skilled
sailors First Europeans to sail to North America
Leif Erikson – set up settlement in Newfoundland
Stayed for around 10 years
Leading Toward Feudalism
Magyars – From the East Nomadic Hungarians Possible descendants of Huns Skilled horsemen
Muslims – From the South (Africa and Middle East) Growing empire Jihad – What does Jihad mean?
“Inner struggle” alternate interpretation as “outward struggle against non-believers”
Invading Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims What would life be like in this environment? Created constant danger for Europeans Far flung kings could not provide protection for a widespread
people – What could people do? People looked for local protection - FEUDALISM
Leading Toward Feudalism
Feudalism - Structure
Feudalism existed as a way of protecting economic interests
King grants land to a Noble as a sort of treaty Noble becomes Lord of the land Land grants were called fiefs
Lord could keep all of the land or grant portions of his land (fiefs) to Vassals and/or Knights as a second agreement Knights were military men
Manors, self sufficient farm villages, were lived on and worked on by servant peasants called serfs For the right to farm the land, the serfs must give back much
of what they grow
Feudalism
Life as a Feudal Serf
Responsibilities
Restrictions
Rights/FreedomsFarming
cropsRaising
animalsGrain taxMarriage taxChurch tax
Tithe – 1/10 of income
Obey the Lord’s rules
HousingProtectionFood…………………
Can’t leaveCan’t marry
without permission
Simple dietSmall living
spaceHarsh
penalties for breaking rules
Knighthood
Around age 7 – Page Castle servant, trained in fighting
Around age 14 – Squire A knight’s apprentice
Around age 21 – Knight Full-fledged
Chivalry Loyalty to:
Feudal lord Heavenly lord Chosen Lady
Art Inspired By Knighthood
Epic Poems Ex:
Beowulf The Song of Roland The Legend of King Arthur (various)
Love Poems and Songs Born out of a knight’s devotion to his lady Troubadours – traveling poet-musicians
The Age of Chivalry
The Middle Ages were an era of constant fighting between nobles over land and wealth
Knights fought for nobles in exchange for land
Military advancements: Saddles Stirrups Battering Ram Mangonel Trebuchet Siege Tower
The Church
All of Western Europe was Christian… leading to a huge growth in the power of the Church
Canon Law – Church law covering religious practices
Structure of the Church: Pope – Head of the Church Bishops – Regional leaders Priests – Local authority What can happen when someone has a lot of power?
The Church
Germanic peoples united to create the Holy Roman Empire in 962 Otto I defeats the invading Magyars and unites central Europe 162 years after Charlemagne, Otto I is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the
Pope – Why title it Holy Roman Empire when it’s a bunch of Germans? Not much of an empire Lasted in some form until 1806
The two main powers in the Middle Ages were the Church and the Empire – Why doesn’t the empire get rid of the Church? The Emperor was the head of government power The Pope was the head of religious power Often the two would clash
The Emperor could attempt to appoint regional bishops and priests, infringing on Church power
The Pope could excommunicate the Emperor, affecting the people of his reign
The Crusades
Armed pilgrimages of Christian Europeans To attack the holy land, Muslims, other non-Christians…
eventually, whatever they wantFirst Crusade began in 1095
Christians gained control of the holy lands, only to lose them back to the Muslims shortly thereafter
Different Crusades continued through the 1400’s At least 9 different crusades of varying size and success
The Crusades were probably just as much about power, influence, and wealth as they were about religion Although those participating DEFINITELY thought they were doing
God’s will – as did the Muslim defenders Who was right?
Development of England
Magna Carta - 1215 English nobles revolted against King John’s rule Weakened the throne Guaranteed certain basic rights:
No taxation without representation Trial by jury Protection under law – Sound familiar? Why would the King sign this?
Parliament is formed in 1295 by King Edward Legislative body to speak for the people Called citizens, knights, bishops, and lords to serve – True
representation? Called any time a new tax was needed House of Lords, House of Commons
Development of France
Estates-General is formed by King Philip IV in 1302 Created to gather support in a dispute with the
Catholic Church Primary role was to advise the King Why does this make sense for the king? Made up of: --Guesses???--
First Estate – Church leaders – Why were they the first estate?
Second Estate – Nobility Third Estate – Commoners, mostly merchants Why is the Third Estate a big deal?
Want to see some drama?
Commercial Revolution
Growth in agriculture and craftsmanship led to a growth in trade
Markets and Fairs – more travelInternational Trade
Especially regional sea trade – Where?Rise of a wealthy merchant class
Between Nobles and PeasantsCredit, Checks, Borrowing
All became commonTransition from the manor back into the town/city
A Weakened Church
Council of Constance New Pope elected, others forced to resign The Church loses a lot of momentum Where will people turn?
John Wycliffe – thinker/reformer Jesus is the authority, not the Pope
Jan Hus – thinker/reformer The Bible is the authority, not the Pope
The Church had no answer for…
THE BLACK DEATH
Tell me about the Black Death – At least 5 sentences.
Bubonic Plague
Came to Europe from Asia through Italian merchant shipsEntered Europe in 1347, had spread throughout by 1351 –
How?Caused by bacteria – Yersinia Pestis – spread by fleas – How?One Third of European population diedThis was the first, and most devastating, of many outbreaks of
the plagueSeen by many as the end of the world, or as God’s punishment
Why? Symptoms:
Swollen lymph glands (buboes) in neck, armpit, and groin regions Blackening of flesh due to gangrene Fever Vomiting blood Death within 2-7 days
How did this lead to the weakening of the Church?
Transmission
Why did it spread so fast?
Yersinia Pestis
Carried in the bloodstream of rodents in central Asia
Often transmitted through fleas
Buboes
The “Black” Death
The Modern Plague
Hundred Years’ War
War between England and France over control of the French throne
1337 – 1453Rise of the Longbow
Up to 200 yard rangeFall of the Age of Chivalry
Knights/Cavalry not as importantFrance eventually winsRise of nationalism
Why did Feudalism end?
Here are some reasons… Weakening of the Church Commercial Revolution and rise of the merchant class
Created a middle class, disrupting the structure of loyalties
The Black Death With fewer people to farm, etc… people could demand
higher wages Hundred Years War and rise of Nationalism
Power consolidated with the central Kings, rather than regional Nobles