European Middle Ages

Chapter 13.1 & 13.2

Warm Up• Repeated invasions and constant

warfare by Germanic invaders caused all of the following problems for the Roman Empire EXCEPT

A.Loss of money

B.Disruption of trade

C.Downfall of cities

D.Population shifts

European Middle Ages

From the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century until the Early Modern Period in the 16th Century

Characteristics of the Middle Ages

• The classical heritage of Rome

• Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church

• Customs of various Germanic tribes

Invasions of Western Europe

Germanic tribes invaded the Western Roman Empire. This caused:

1. Disruption of trade4. Loss of a common language

2. Downfall of cities 5. Decline of learning

3. Population shifts

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge

• Family ties and personal loyalty held Germanic tribes together.

• Germanic people lived in small communities with no written laws

• The church will provide order and security.

Germanic Warriors

Christendom

• Papacy- the Pope’s office.

• Pope Gregory I broadened the Pope’s office beyond the spiritual role.

• Secular- concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters.

• The Pope’s office became the center of government.

The Franks in Gaul

• A Germanic people known as the Franks came to power in Gaul.

• Gaul was much of present day France and Switzerland.

• The leader Clovis brought Christianity to the land.

An Empire Evolves

• Clovis dies in 511.• By 700, the person in

the position of Mayor of the Palace had all of the power.

• The Mayor of the Palace led armies and made policy.

Charles Martel

• 719 – Charles Martel is Mayor of the Palace.

• He extended the Frank’s Empire.

• Defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours in 732.

Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours

Carolingian Dynasty

• Charles Martel’s son, Pepin the Short came to power.

• Called “king by the grace of God” by the Pope.

• Carolingian Dynasty is created and lasts 236 years.

Charles the Great a.k.a. Charlemagne

• Charlemagne built an empire greater than any since Rome.

• He reunited western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire.

• He was crowned emperor.

The Rule of Charlemagne

• Governed through royal agents

• Encouraged learning

• Following his death, Louis the Pious ruled ineffectively.

• Louis’ sons fought over and divided the empire.

Warm Up

• Tell me briefly what each of these men did that was important:

• Clovis

• Charles Martel

• Pepin the Short

• Charlemagne

Invaders Attack Western Europe

• Vikings- Fierce warriors but also farmers, traders, and explorers– Vikings accepted Christianity and started

farming instead of raiding

• Magyars- Nomads from Hungary

–Invaded western Europe in 800’s

• Muslims- Invaded from North Africa 600’s- 900’s

• People started looking to local rulers for security instead of central rulers

Feudalism

1. King (owned all land). Granted large lots of land to nobles

2. Lord (large landowner/ vassal) gave a fief (small piece of land) for protection

3. Knights (mounted horsemen) protected their lord in exchange for this land

4. Serfs- bound to the land. Not slaves, but could not move. Largest group.

Manors (the economic side of Feudalism)

• Manor is lord’s estate. System of rights and obligations between lords and serfs

• Lords provide serfs with housing, farmland, and protection

• Peasants tended the lands, farmed, and cared for estate

Manor Life

• Self contained and self sufficient

–Manor house

–Church

–Workshops

• Very harsh life– Daily hard work

– Paid taxes for services (baking bread, marriage)

– Tithes

– No other options for employment