Chapter 8.1-2
Pope Gregory the GreatLombards attacking from North600 AD: Invaders swept across
EuropeTowns emptied, trade stopped,
learning ceased
Early Middle Ages500-1000 ADEurope relatively backward regionCut off from advanced civilizations in ME,
China, IndiaSlowly, new Europe emerged
Greco-Roman, Germanic, Christian traditionsCalled “medieval civilization” from Latin
“middle age”
GeographyEurope: small continent
Huge impact on modern world500-1000: Frontier land- sparsely populated,
undeveloped area on outskirts of civilizationDense forestsRich earth for farmingMineral resourcesFishingRivers
Germanic KingdomsFarmers and herdersNo cities, written lawsLived in small communitiesUnwritten customsElected kings who sent them into
war
The Franks400-700 Germanic tribes carved W Europe into
kingdomsStrongest
Clovis conquered former Roman province of Gaul
Frankish customsConverted to Christianity
Europe and MuslimsNew power in MediterraneanReligion of IslamArabia: 622 ADBuilt huge empireOverran Christian lands from Palestine to North
Africa to SpainBattle of Tours: 722
Christian Frankish warriors rallied to defend FranceWon battle
Muslims source of anxiety- viewed with hostilityIn time would learn from Muslims- their
education exceeded Europeans
Charlemagne800 ADGrandson of Charles MartelBuilt empire from France, Germany and
part of ItalyAKA Charles the GreatLoved battle
Spent most of 46-year reign fightingMuslims in Spain, Saxons in north, Avars and
Slavs in east, Lombars in ItalyReunited much of old Roman empire
Christian Emperor800 Pope Leo III called for Charlemagne to help
with rebellious nobles in RomeFrankish armies crushed rebellionChristmas day: pope showed gratitude by
placing crown on Charlemagne’s headEmperor of Romans
Significance: Christian pope crowned a German king successor to roman emperorsLaid groundwork for power struggle between
Roman Catholic popes and German emperorsOutraged Eastern Roman emperorWidened split between east and west
Spread of ChristianityCharlemagne worked with Church to
spread Christianity to conquered people
Appointed powerful nobles to rule regions
Gave them landOfficials called missi dominici to
check on rulers
LearningWanted “second Rome”Revived Latin learningLearning was in declineRare if a person could read or writeCharlemagne could only read, but not
writeNeed for keeping accurate recordsSchool at Aachen
Curriculum- formal course of study
After CharlemagneDied 814Empire fell apartHeirs battled for power843: Treaty of Verdun- split empire into 3
regionsLegacy:
Extended Christian civilizationBlended German, Roman, Christian traditionsStrong efficient governmentBecame example for later rulers
More InvasionMuslims still posed threat
Conquered Sicily900: Struggle in Middle East refocused
attention of Muslims
896: Maygars settled HungaryOverran E Europe , Germany, France and ItalyAfter 50 years, driven back to Hungary
VikingsCame from Scandinavia900s: looted and burned communities along
coasts and rivers in EuropeTraders and explorersOpened trade routes1000: Leif Erikson set up colony in N America
VowCount William inherited rich land of FlandersNobles gathered to pledge loyalty to new lordKnelt before him and took an oath of loyaltyCount touched them with small rodGranted noble a parcel of land including towns,
castles and peopleCeremonies like this took place across Europe
during Middle AgesVows were part of political and social system
FeudalismPeople needed protection from invasionNew system evolvedFeudalism: loosely organized system of rule in
which powerful local lords divided landholdings among lesser lords called vassals
Feudal Contract: Lord granted vassal a fief (estate)Ranged from a few acres to hundreds of square milesIncluded land, peasants to work the land, and any
towns or buildingsLord promised to protect vassalVassal promised to be loyal
StructureEveryone had a place in feudal societyMonarch—powerful lords—dukes and
counts—vassals—vassals—peasantsOne man could be vassal and lord—vassal
to a more powerful lord above him, and lord to a less powerful vassal below him
Some vassals had fiefs from more than one lord—could be problematicTo solve, often would have a liege lord-1st loyalty
World of NoblesWarfare was way of lifeRival lords battled constantlyNobles boys trained for future occupation as
a knight—mounted warrior.
Knighthood7 years old: sent away to castle of father’s lord
Learned to: ride and fight keep armor and weapons in good condition
When training was finished, became a knightKnelt before elder knight, bowed headKnight struck young man with hand or flat side of
sword and dubbed him a knightFeudal warfare decreased in 1100sTournaments (mock battles) came into fashionLord would invite all knights from area to enter
contests of fighting skillAs dangerous as real battles
CastlesPowerful lords fortified
homes to withstand attackWooden tower, ringed by
fence, surrounded by moatGradually became larger,
granderWars centered on taking
castlesAttackers would starve
defenders or tunnel under walls
NoblewomenActive role in societyLady of the manor took over husband’s
dutiesSupervised vassals, managed house,
performed ag, medical tasks, sometimes went to war
Land passed to elder sonDaughters sent for training
Spinning, weaving, supervise servants, read and write
ChivalryKnights adopted code of conduct
Called chivalryRequired bravery, loyalty, true to wordFight fairly in war
No attacking until both sides had armor onRelease captured knight on his promise to
pay his ransomWomen protected, cherishedTroubadours- wandering poets
Love songs praised women Shaped Western ideas of romantic love
PeasantsManor: lord’s estateIncluded one or more villages and surrounding landsPeasants made up majority of pop, lived and worked on
manorMost were serfs:
Slaves that could not be bought and sold, but not free, couldn’t leave
Work: farming, repair roads, bridges, fencesPaid a fee to lord to marry, inherit acres or use millPayments due at Christmas, Easter
Grain, honey, eggs, chickens
BenefitsRight to farm acres for themselvesProtection from warfareGuaranteed food, housing, land
Self-SufficientManor was self-sufficientPeasants produced almost everything they
neededNo schooling, knowledge of outside worldHarsh life, long hoursBlack bread, vegetables (seldom ate meat)
Poached at risk of punishmentFamily and any animals they had slept togetherDisease took toll- few lived beyond 35Celebrated festivals, marriages, dancing,
sports
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