<p>Europe in the Middle Ages 500-1350 CE Western Europe changes . . .  the western Roman Empire falls to invasion in 400s  People leave the cities – too much fighting (disrupts trade and government)</p><p>Decline of Learning  As cities are abandoned, level of learning declines  Knowledge of Greek language and culture is almost completely lost  Changes in language as well – introduction of German language change Latin; dialects develop</p><p>Welcome to the Middle Ages  All of these changes add up to a new era called the Middle Ages (500 – 1350)</p><p>The early Middle Ages New Kingdoms Emerge  400 – 600 CE are years of struggle  New kingdoms pop up and replace the old Roman empire  Constant warfare changes borders between kingdoms</p><p>A different kind of government  Government like we are used to is non-existent  German communities are held together by family ties, loyalty, unwritten rules, and traditions – not by a standard government  German warriors pledge loyalty to their chief and they live in their lord’s hall</p><p>Who was in charge? Clovis (481 – 511) Charles Martel (714 – 741) - Halted Islamic expansion Pepin the Short (752 – 768) Carolus Magnus (768 – 814)</p><p>Clovis  The Franks are power holders in the old Roman province of Gaul  Clovis, their leader, converts to Christianity in 496  Leads his warriors against other Germanic armies  With the Church’s help, is able to unite everyone into one kingdom Christianity is adopted</p><p> How did the Christian word spread??  Franks control the largest of the Germanic kingdoms  Missionaries travel throughout Europe to convert pagan groups Monasteries, Convents, & Manuscripts  The Church builds monasteries where monks live, study, and serve God  Benedict (an Italian monk) wrote the rules that governed monastic life  His sister, Scholastica, adapted rules for nuns living in convents  Monks established schools, helped preserve learning through their libraries</p><p>Gregory I  In 590, Gregory I (Gregory the Great) became pope  Under him, the church became secular (a worldly power – a political power)  His palace in Rome becomes the center of church government  Uses church money to raise armies, care for the poor, and negotiate treaties  Established Christendom – a Christian kingdom that fanned out from Rome</p><p>Europe continues to change . . .  The Franks still control the largest and strongest of Europe’s kingdoms  The most powerful official in the kingdom in the major domo (the mayor of the palace)  In 719, Charles Martel is major domo  He is well-known because he defeated Muslims at Tours in 732; he becomes a Christian hero  His son, Pepin, begins the Carolingian Dynasty – a family that ruled large chunks of Europe from 751-987</p><p>Charlemagne Charlemagne (or Carolus Magnus)  Pepin dies in 768 and leaves his kingdom to 2 sons (one son dies in 771); the other, Charlemagne, rules the kingdom  Charlemagne = Charles the Great</p><p>Charlemagne, cont.  Charlemagne reunites Western Europe under one kingdom; spreads Christianity  In 800, he travels to Rome to protect Pope Leo III from mobs  Pope crowns Charlemagne emperor; gives him the title “Roman Emperor”</p><p>Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne, cont.  Charlemagne leads a revival of European power  Limits nobles’ power by governing through royal agents  Encourages learning and has monasteries open schools</p><p>Charlemagne, cont.  Charlemagne dies in 814; his son, Louis the Pious, isn’t a very good ruler  Louis’ 3 grandsons fight for control  Charles the Bald  Lothar I  Louis the German  Treaty of Verdun – they divide the kingdom into 3 parts Feudalism  Feudalism = a political and economic system based on land-holding and protective alliances</p><p>Feudalism develops . . .  Between 850-950 feudalism develops  Provides a new structure for society  Political system based on land control  A lord (landowner) gives fiefs (land) in exchange for services  Vassals (those who receive the fief) become powerful landholders</p><p>The Feudal Pyramid  Power in the feudal system much like a pyramid, with the king at the top  Kings are served by nobles  Lords (nobles) are served by knights  Knights (horsemen) defended their lord’s land in exchange for fiefs  Peasants were at the bottom</p><p>Social Classes are defined  The medieval feudal system classifies people into three social groups  Those who fight (nobles/knights)  Those who pray (monks/nuns/church leaders)  Those who work (peasants)  Social classes were generally inherited  Majority of people were peasants  Most peasants were serfs  Lawfully bound to their place of birth  Not slaves, but what they produce belongs to their lord</p><p>The Manorial System  A lord’s estate – an economic system  Serfs and free peasants maintain the estate, give grain  The lord provides housing, farmland, and protection</p><p>Manorial System, cont.  It was a self-contained world  Included lord’s house, church, workshops, and village  Covered a few square miles of land  Self-sufficient</p><p>Manor Life was not always great…  Peasants pay taxes  Pay to use the mill and bakery  Pay church tax  Serfs live in crowded cottages with dirt floors, straw beds  Poor diet, illness, malnutrition = 35 year life expectancy  Believed that their existence was part of God’s plan</p><p>William the Conqueror aka William of Normandy  Born to a Norman duke and a tanner’s daughter  His father went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when William was 8 yrs old (he never made it back) – his father’s vassals had to swear an oath of allegiance to William in case anything happened to dad  The vassals didn’t really keep their promise</p><p>William and Matilda  William married Matilda of Flanders – he was a tall man, she was a short woman  They had at least 9 kids . . . yikes</p><p>Battle of Hastings  King Edward the Confessor (a very religious man) died and the English throne went to his brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson  William was furious  William landed on the coast of England in 1066 and, on October 14, defeated Harold’s army (and proclaimed himself to be king)</p><p>Bayeux Tapestry  Commissioned by Odo to celebrate the Battle of Hastings  231 feet long; housed in Bayeux, Normandy (France)  Represented are 626 humans, 55 dogs, 202 horses, 41 ships, 49 trees, almost 2000 Latin words, over 500 mythical and non mythical creatures (i.e. birds and dragons)</p><p>Medieval Law Magna Carta  King John I  Runnymeade  “Great Charter”  monarchs were not above the law  kings had to consult a council of advisors  kings could not tax arbitrarily</p>