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