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The Fall of the Roman Empire Periodization • After the “fall” of the Roman Empire there were two distinct “Europes”, Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000 each with their own characteristics, cultures, and societies.  Eastern Europe– flourishing, literate, influenced by both Christianity and Islam  Western Europe– experiencing a “dark age.” High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250

Late Middle Ages: 1250 – 1500 (Renaissance) : 1350-1500

Political System Chivalry • Code of behavior for medieval society. –Be brave in battle. Code of Economic – Behavior System Fight fairly. = Medieval –Be loyal. Manors Chivalry Society –Defend the Church. –Treat women in a courteous manner. Belief System

The Catholic Church

Chivalric Code Chivalry: A Code of Honor and Behavior King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table— • Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe legend to promote Chivalry all its directions. --Monty Python and Search for the Holy Grail • Thou shalt defend the Church. • Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born and be loyal to thou Lord. • Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. • Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy. • Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God. • Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word. • Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

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Medieval Situation Feudalism • The Roman Empire has fallen—overtaken by barbarian tribes Feudalism developed in Europe following the fall of the from the north. You are 22 years of age. You are a (serf). Roman Empire. It arose as a response to the uncertainty the You are poor. You have 4 children!!! You have no protection from these barbarians. You are hungry. You need farm land but cant prevailed under both the Barbarian and Islamic invasions of afford to but any. You are desperate. the 5th-9th century. • Now, the King of your region has control and rights over all of the Feudalism can be simply defined as– (1) fragmentation and land around you. However, his power depends on having a large army to fight for him. He has an average size army but the would decentralization of political power; (2)A political, like to expand it. He has about 20 lords under him that live in his economic, and social system based on loyalty and military region. service, and mutual obligations. • Think of a solution whereby the , King, and Lords can live At the core of Feudalism was a system designed to maintain together, while also helping each other out. What should be done so that everyone is happy? a static class society with rigid social, political, economic, and religious orders.

Feudal hierarchy Fiefs • The might be any object of value that reflected the ’s social status and the lord’s respect for his services. A fief could be a war horse, sword, a suit of armor, a public office, a right to collect tax Vassal • The most sought after fief was a land grant Vassal

Advantages Disadvantages

KING Dependent on Lords below Power, Military Control, KING him for loyalty Wealth

LORD or VASSAL Fief, Some Power, Need to pledge loyalty to King and Lords (Knights) Wealth provide him with money/resources

Knights PEASANT Safety/Security, No ownership, no ability to improve Land to work, Food condition, need to fight for Lord/King when called upon Serfs

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Feudalism Chess MP clip

MANOR SYSTEM The Medieval Manor ECONOMIC LAND SYSTEM OF THE MIDDLE AGES •GOAL OF THE MANOR WAS TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT •MOST MANORS WERE PROTECTED BY A CASTLE AND A WALL

A Medieval Castle Life on the Medieval Manor

Serfs at work

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The Medieval Catholic Church

 filled the power vacuum left from the collapse of the classical world. Inquisition: Institution of the Catholic Church designed to investigate heresy.

Malleus Maleficarum Latin for "The Hammer of Witches", • The main purpose of the Malleus was to “prove” the reality of witchcraft and to “prove” that witches were more often women than men, • It also served to educate secular and religious rulers on the procedures that could be used to “out” them. • MP Witch clip The Latin title is "MALLEUS MALEFICARUM, Maleficas, & earum hæresim, ut phramea potentissima conterens." (English: The Hammer of Witches which destroyeth Witches and their heresy like a most powerful spear.)

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