Unit 4

Review and Discussion

Invasions of Europe, 700–1000Invasions of Europe, 700–1000

More invaders Northmen: Norwegians, Swedes and Dane and Magyars.More invaders Northmen: Norwegians, Swedes and Dane and Magyars.

The Early Middle Ages

• Rome Disappears– Trade Slows– Towns Empty– Learning Ceases

• Impact of the Christian Church– Grew very powerful because it had the

ability to grant salvation– Its very success brought many problems

Western Europe from 500 until 800 C.E.• Roman law

– was replaced with laws practiced by Germanic peoples.

• Economy– use of currency as a medium of

exchange became far less common.

• Germanic decentralization – created a need for local self-

sufficiency. – That need helped create the self-

contained manor, with its corresponding political, economic, and social organization.

How did Feudalism begin?• People joined together to work

against common problems.• Problems included:

– Foreign invaders (Vikings)– lack of currency– lack of trade– food shortages.

Feudal System

• Need for protection and lack of central government created the feudal system

• Under the feudal system, every person had obligations to a superior

• Every person had a duty to someone else.

The Lord and Lady• Were rulers of their small feudal

state, and gave allegiance to the monarch.

• Lived in a castle, which also served as a fortress for that feudal state.

• Protected the serfs with their army of knights.

• Arranged marriages, and male heirs were desired, since the estate went to the oldest son.

• Code of Chivalry governed the relationship between noblemen and noble women

Lesser Lords (Vassals)

• Lord divided his larger landholdings among Vassals

• In return the Vassals pledged service to the Lord

• Agreed to provide the lord with:– 40 days of military service each year– Money– Advice

Knights• Were members of the feudal army.

• One job: Protect the state, and the lord and lady in charge of it.

• They had many different weapons:– Mace (club)– Morning Star (spiked mace)– War Hammer– Battle Ax– Daggers– Lances (used more often in

tournaments)

Serfs• Like the middle class here, serfs

were the vast majority in the feudal states, but they were poorer.

• They were not slaves, but were farmers who were bound to the land

• In return, they received protection from the knights.

Feudal Manor: Three-field system

Use of the steel plow and the three-field system revolutionized agriculture by allowing peasants to grow more crops

Charlemagne: 800 CEThe Father of Europe

• Temporarily created and united Christian Europe.

• Try to revived Latin learning in his empire and strived to create a “second Rome.”

It included Northern Italy, Germany, Belgium, and France)

IslamThe Religion & A Way of Life

The Basic Teachings of Islam

• Islam is monotheistic,– based on the belief in one God (Allah)

• Based on the teachings of the Quran (Koran)

Islam: The 5 Pillars1. Faith

There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger

2. Prayer (Salat) 5 x daily

3. Charity (Zakat) All Things belong to God so we

should donate to the Needy4. Fast

During Ramadan, form sun up to sundown.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) Once in a lifetime trip to Mecca

and the Ka’ba

Some of Muhammad’s Teachings

• Each person is responsible for their own behavior

• You should be humble, show mercy and give. • If you have nothing to give you can give a

smile • All believers are spiritually equal

Jihad or Holy War

• means: active opposition to evil and injustice (internal), more than literal warfare.

Islam and its Women

The New Religion of Islam• Islam - emerged in Arabia in 637 A.D.• Within 200 years, Muslims had created a

great empire and a new major civilization• Battle of Tours in 732 stopped the Muslims

from advancing farther into Western Europe

Crusades, 1096–1204Crusades, 1096–1204

The Crusades (1096-1099)• Muslims conquered the Holy

land. (Jerusalem)• Pope Urban II called nobles to

action against the Muslims: “ An accursed race… has violently invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by pillage and fire.” After he said this he called for a crusade or Holy war to take back the Holy land.

Crusades• Why did so many “take up the

cross?”– Religious reasonsReligious reasons– Knights hoped to win Knights hoped to win

wealth and landwealth and land– adventure and to get away adventure and to get away

from home strugglesfrom home struggles

Fourth Crusade, 1202-1204

• Pope Innocent III called for the crusade

• Few reached the Holy Lands most attacked Constantinople

• After 200 years of fighting, the Holy Land was again Muslim control!

Children’s Crusade, 1212

• 30,000 French and German children set out to save Jerusalem!

• Sadly, most die or are sold in slavery by evil merchants!

Impact of the Crusades• The Crusades failed in their chief goal- reclaiming the holy lands.• Both Christians and Muslims committed appalling acts in the name of

religion.• Christians turned their fury against Jews, massacring entire communities.• Helped change Europe to more of a trading society. Western Europeans

wanted the silk, spices and perfumes from the east.• Brought the power of the pope to its greatest height.

– Its loss also created weakness and division during the late middle ages• Encouraged a money society• Gave serfs more power because nobles needed rent MONEY instead of

grain for pay

Hundred Years’ War, 1337–1453Hundred Years’ War, 1337–1453

Joan of Arc: Turning point

• From 1429 to 1431, From 1429 to 1431, Joan’s successes in Joan’s successes in battle rallied the battle rallied the French forces to French forces to victory. victory.

• French armies French armies continued to win continued to win even after she was even after she was executed by the executed by the English for heresy. English for heresy.

Emergence of Monarchs• New military technology

–The longbow, crossbow (metal tipped arrows) and firearm made soldiers more important and knights less valuable.

–made castles and knights obsolete–Development of professional standing

army• Taxed land, merchants, and church

The Magna Carta• Many Kings in England around the 10th - 12th centuries

were abusing their power and highly taxing their nobles.• In 1215 King John angered his nobles so much that they

forcibly made John sign a document called the Magna Carta (or Great Charter)

• Contained two basic ideas that would shape English govt.– Nobles had certain rights (later this was extended to all

citizens)– Made clear that the monarch must obey the law.

Modern Liberties Founded in the Magna Carta

• Taxation only with representation • -no unusual taxes accept by agreement of people’s

representatives • Right to trial • -trial to be proven guilty by peers • Limits to royal power • English subjects had certain liberties • power was shared between the king and the people’s

representatives in the Great Council • Parliament developed into a 2 house body

– House of Lords -nobles and clergy– House of Commons -knights and middle class

Black Death• By 1347, the bubonic plague had spread to Europe

• The bubonic plague, or "Black Death” strikes – 3 forms:

• Bubonic (flea bite), Pneumonic (air), Septemic (bodily fluid)

• 1/3 of the European population died (25-35 million)

• -economic decline• Weakened the power of the

church• Blame was placed on the Jews

– Many moved to Poland to avoid persecution