From Democracy to the Dark Ages

Democracy• 1st practiced by the Greeks

• Main idea of democracy:– All people have rights– Limits on government power

• Direct Democracy- All citizens participate in government

• Main Greek Philosophers– Plato – Aristotle

Rome- Republic to Empire

• Power rests w/ citizens who elect representatives

• (Representative Government)• Practiced Separation of Powers

(branches of gov)• Rule of Law- Became the basis for legal

systems (follow laws or receive punishment)• Also the birth & spread of Christianity

The fall of Romein 476 A.D. alteredthe map of Europe.

The once greatempire was replaced by

hundreds of littlekingdoms.

Collapse of Central Government

• During the Roman Empire, there was a central government. It made laws and had armies to protect people.

• However, with the fall of Rome, the central government collapsed.

• Hundreds of little kingdoms governed in its place.

After the fall of Rome, the empire was divided among the various Barbarian tribes.

Increased Warfare

• The new kingdoms frequently fought in an attempt to acquire more land.

• This frightened people and encouraged people to think of new ways of protecting themselves.

• New political and economic systems developed.

Feudalism and Manorialism

In this lesson, students will be able to define and explain the following terms:

Feudalism

Manorialism

Lords

Vassals

Serfs

Fiefs

TheEarly

MiddleAgeswas a

dangeroustime.

Peasants Needed Protection

• Peasants were frightened.

• They turned to landowners for protection.

• Peasants offered their labor in exchange for protection.

• These peasants were called serfs.

It was a dangeroustime to be a

peasant. Poorpeople turned

to rich landownerswith armies for

protection.

Serfs• A serf was “bound to the land.”

• He could not leave his lord’s land.

• He was not a slave because he could not be sold.

• But he was not free because he could not leave.

People who owned land were called lords.

Lords gave land to lesserlords called vassals.A vassal had to obey

his lord and give militaryservice and loyalty to

his lord.

Feudalism

• Feudalism was the political and military system of the Middle Ages.

• In a feudal society, land is exchanged for military service and loyalty.

• The ownership of land was the basis or power.

A fief was all of theLord’s land. The manor was partof the fief wherethe peasants farmedand the people lived.

Manorialism

• Manorialism was the economic system of the Middle Ages.

• Manorialism is a self-sufficient economy.

• Everything that is necessary for life is created on the manor. (They take care of themselves.)

The Manor

Questions for Reflection:

• Why did peasants need protection after the fall of Rome?

• Why were serfs willing to offer their labor to lords?

• What was the relationship between lords and vassals?

• Define feudalism and manorialism.• How does manorialism differ from our

economic system?