Post on 14-Dec-2015
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