THE MIDDLE AGES

Why are they the dark ages?

- The collapse of trade and towns, kind of

- Loss of literacy and a common language

- Development of Germanic kingdoms

END OF AN EMPIRE?

The Barbarian Kingdoms c. 500 ce

Used Church revenues to: -Raise armies-Repair roads

-Care for the poor-Evangelized The Church

THE CHURCH EXTENDS IT’S POWER

St. Benedict sets rules for monasteries

-Once a monk enters a monastery, he is to remain there for life

-Daily life should follow a strict schedule, pray 8 times per day

-Seven hours a day dedicated to manual labor

-2 hours per day devoted to reading-2 meals per day, wine ok, but no red meat

STRENGTHENING OF PAPAL POWER

The beginning of Witch Village

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntikaU

MONTY PYTHON:

A political and military system based on holding of land: the control of the land was the key to the system

FEUDALISM THE BASIS OF GOVERNANCE

Constitutional Peasants

MONTY PYTHON

The economic engine behind Feudalism

A small estate from which a lord’s family gained it’s livelihood

Self-sufficient

Serfs

Free peasants

THE MANOR SYSTEM

From French word Cheval (horse) and Chevalier (horse-riding lord)

Aid the poor and help the weak

Lords fight bravely in the defense of three masters:

-Earthly feudal lord-Heavenly Lord-Chosen lady

CHIVALRY

The Black Knight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUe-gz690

MONTY PYTHON

Under the code of chivalry, a knight’s duty to his lady becomes equally important as to his duty to his lord

Marriage is to advance status, usually arranged

No sex in romantic love

ROMANTIC LOVE

The tale of Sir Lancelot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZbG7iwRh34

MONTY PYTHON