Middle Ages

Middle AgesTurn to page 394Make sure you are reading the chapter!

What were the Middle Ages?Between 500 and 1500 A.D.As a result of the fall of the

Roman Empire and invading groups, Europe fragmented into smaller groups with different languages.

CharlemagneAround 800 AD, a Frank named

Charlemagne united most of Western Europe

The Pope declared him Emperor.His accomplishments:

◦Reuniting Western Europe◦Education◦Economy◦Christianization

VikingsFrom Norway, Sweden, and

DenmarkSeafaring PeoplePillaged and plundered through

Europe from 800 to about 1100 AD

On a positive note, they reopened trade routes.

Feudalism Emerges as a Government System

King

Barons, Nobles, Lords, Princes

Peasants or serfs

Vass

al

s

Protectionknights

The Manor System of Economy

Peasants or serfs

King

Barons, Nobles, Lords, Princes

•Vas

sals w

ork

the

land

, rai

se li

vest

ock

•Pay

tax

es a

nd fo

od to

the

Lord

of t

he M

anor

•Wor

k to

pay

way

out

or es

cape

after

a y

ear an

d a

day

•Kings give land (fiefs) to

Lords

•Lords are vassals to the king,

expected to collect taxes and

goods from it for the king

•Lords are protectors and

judges for the manor

SELF-SUFFICIENT!!!

Section 2The Church and Rise of Cities

Most people in Western Europe in the Middle Ages were Roman Catholic.

Religious and Economic PowerPeople were constrained by the

idea of punishment-hell, and reward-heaven.

Clergy (church leaders) collected taxes and fiefs from Lords for performing various religious services-baptisms, weddings, church services, etc.

Church Political PowerPeople who were

excommunicated were left out of everything.

Church officials advised kings and lords.

Church organization

Parish PriestsBishops

Archbishops

Pope

EverydayPriests were in every communityThey performed various religious

rites and took confessions from parishoners.

Monasteries and ConventsMonasteries – Monks –developed

better ways to farm; copied religious writings

Convents- Nuns helped with education and health

ScholasticismUsed reasoning to explain things

that had always been explained by faith alone.

Trade and TownsPeople were beginning to feel

safer. They opened up the ancient trade routes. European merchants bought and sold goods from afar.

Towns began as manors became overcrowded; lords allowed serfs to buy freedom and move to towns.

Towns developed where local goods were traded

•Small markets that grew into larger trade fairs•Along rivers and highways•Near monasteries and fortified places

Towns and CitiesBy 1300, there were some large

cities.Paris had 300,000 people!

(largest in world at that time)

Middle Class DevelopsMerchantsTradersCraft workers

Guilds of certain occupations began to:◦Set quality standards◦Set price controls◦Pay dues to support those of their

number in need

Steps to Becoming a Guild MemberAges 8-14: Be an apprentice. Live

with someone who can teach you the trade, but you are not paid a salary. You are there to learn.

After apprenticeship: Become a journeyman. You are paid for your work, and eventually you create a reputation for yourself that makes you worthy of acceptance into the guild.

Overcrowding in CitiesExtremely unsanitary conditions

led to lots of disease, such as the Black Death, that ravaged Europe from 1347 to 1351.

It was transmitted by fleas on rats.

Medieval CultureLarge cathedrals built in gothic

styleStained glass artworkCathedral schoolsChivalry- the code of good

conduct for knightsTroubadors- traveling

entertainers who parlayed stories of great knights winning over beautiful ladies into music