The Middle AgesChapter 1 7

Teacher Notes

If you were there....Your village is on the banks of a river. The river created a flat plain where you can

grow crops. The river also gives you a way to get to the sea and to trade with villages farther inland. You love your village and think it is the perfect place to live. But, your

favorite uncle, the one who everyone looks up to, says he is worried. Your village is in a dangerous place. Why do you think he is worried?

Geography of Europe

• Physical features: Europe is part of Eurasia - the large landmass that includes both Europe & Asia

• European topography varies- the shape & elevation of land in a region

• Europe is part of the vast European Plain

Climate & Vegetation

• Varies greatly from region to region

• Southern part is warm & sunny

• Northwestern part is mild, cooler, & wetter

• Northern part is often freezing w/ much snow

Map of Modern EuropeEngland, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Scandinavia (Norway/Sweden/Finland)

Geography shapes life

• In Southern Europe, most live on coastal plains or river valleys (grapes, olives, sheep, goats, trading, seafaring)

• In Northern Europe, rivers were a resource & provided protection/transportation

Reading checks & Main Ideas

• 1. How do Europe's landforms and climates vary by region?

• 2. How did geography influence where people lived in Europe.

•3. have so many different ways of life developed in Europe.

Europe, after the

fall of Rome

Ch 17, Section 2

If you were there...

• You're returning to your village in Northern Europe after a hard day working in the fields. But as you reach the top of a hill, you smell smoke. Alarmed, you break into a run. Finally your village comes into sight, and your fears are realized. Your village is on fire! In the distance, you can see sails moving away on the river.

• What do you think happened to your village?

Christianity Spreads to Northern Europe

• as the Roman Empire fell, others moved in

• they created their own states

• rulers (warlords) became kings

• creation of these kingdoms marked the beginning of the Middle Ages (medieval)

• time btwn ancient & modern times (500-1500)

Missionaries• most kingdoms were not Christian

• Christianity was only common in parts of the former Roman Empire

• Christianity slowly spread

• missionaries & monks helped spread religion

• monks live in communities (monasteries) all over Europe

• the pope sent them to convert others

• Patrick was a monk who helped convert the Irish • we know him as St. Patrick (400s)

• Most monasteries followed rules by Benedict

• His rules ~ Benedictine Rule (followed by Benedictine Monks)

• Monks were influential: (provided aid/healthcare; ran schools, copied texts, served as scribes/advisors; collected/saved ancient writings)

The Franks Build an Empire

• Political changes occurred as Christianity spread

• the Franks conquered Gaul (France)

• Charlemagne became a great ruler (700s)

• he spent much time at war

• he seized France, parts of Germany, Austria, Italy, & Spain as well as parts of the former Roman Empire

• Pope Leo III crowned him emperor of the Romans (symbolizing a return of the great Roman Empire)

• He also built schools,

Invaders• Muslims armies attacked

S. France/N. Italy

• Vikings (Scandinavia) attacked via the rivers

• Europe remained a dangerous place despite the creation of kingdoms and spread of Christianity

View link: C-a

Reading Checks & Main Ideas Ch17S2

• 1. How did missionaries & monks help spread Christianity into new areas?

2. What were Charlemagne's major accomplishments?

3. What groups invaded Europe in the 700-800s?

Reading Checks & Main Ideas Ch17S2

• 1. How did missionaries & monks help spread Christianity into new areas?

2. What were Charlemagne's major accomplishments?

3. What groups invaded Europe in the 700-800s?

Feudalism & Manor LifeCh 17 S 3

If you were there...• You are a peasant in the Middle Ages, living on the land of a

noble. Although you and your family work very hard for many hours of the day, much of the food you grow goes to the noble and his family. Your house is very small, and it has a dirt floor. Your parents are tired and weak, and you wish you could do something to improve their lives.

• Is there any way you could change your life?

Feudalism Governs Knights & Nobles

• Initially, the Frankish kings could not defend their kingdoms

• Nobles had to defend their own land

• Noble power grew

• Nobles needed soldiers (knights) to defend their lands

• Nobles gave knights fiefs (pieces of land) in exchange for military service

• a noble who gave land to a knight was called a lord

• a knight who promised to support a lord in exchange for land was a vassal

• this system of promises was called feudalism

ties between lords and vassals were central to feudalism; each had to be loyal & fair

Feudal Society• each group had responsibilities

• lords helped vassals by sending help when enemies attacked

• lords had to be fair otherwise vassals could break all ties

• lords build castles (initially made of wood) to defend their lands

• if the lords went to battle, the vassals fought with them

• vassals also had to give lords their money on special occasions (when a son b/came a knight or a daughter married)

• a vassal provided food & shelter to a lord if he visited

• vassals could become lords w/ enough land

The Manor System

• knights needed a way to farm their land while they were away

• few peasants owned land

• new economic system developed

• knights allowed peasants to farm land on their estates

• in return, the peasants gave the knights food/payment

• manor: the large estate owned by a knight or lord

• serfs were tied to the land (although not slaves) and received a small part of the land to farm themselves

• skilled workers were also found on a manor who worked in exchange for food

Cities Grow

• in the Middle Ages, most people lived on manors or small farms

• most towns were small, but some grew into cities

• food was more available so the population increased

• new technology made for better harvests (heavier plow, horse collar)

• trade also increased (trade routes created)

• trade led to the decline of feudalism

• serfs & peasants left for towns, weakening the manor system

Reading Checks & Main Ideas

• 1. What led to the creation of feudalism?

• 2. How were the lives of nobles and peasants different?

• 3. Why did towns and trade grow in the Middle Ages?

• 4. Why did vassals have to serve lords?

• 5. Who benefited more from feudalism, knights or lords? Why?

• 6. What led to the growth of Europe's population in the Middle Ages?

• 7. Why do you think peasants left the farms for big cities?

Reading Checks & Main Ideas

• 1. What led to the creation of feudalism?

• 2. How were the lives of nobles and peasants different?

• 3. Why did towns and trade grow in the Middle Ages?

• 4. Why did vassals have to serve lords?

• 5. Who benefited more from feudalism, knights or lords? Why?

• 6. What led to the growth of Europe's population in the Middle Ages?

• 7. Why do you think peasants left the farms for big cities?