Middle Ages

Years of upheaval between 400 and 600 and

Germanic kingdoms replace Roman provinces.
Continual wars change borders between kingdoms
and either expand or shrink. Over time the Church
would provide order and security.

Creation of Western Europe

Effects of Constant
Invasions and Warfare
Germanic invaders
overrun western
Roman Empire in 400s
Fighting and invasions
disrupts trade, and
challenge
government structure
People abandon
cities

 Loss of a Common
Language
German language
changes Latin;
dialects develop
into Spanish,
French, and other
romance
languages.

The Decline of Learning

As cities are
abandoned, the
importance of
learning declines
Knowledge of Greek
language and culture
is almost completely
lost

Clovis
Clovis Rules the Franks

Germanic people called Franks hold power in Roman province of Gaul

Clovis, leader of the Franks, converts to Christianity in 496
Leads warriors against other Germanic armies
Unites Franks into one kingdom with Churchs help by 511

 The Structure of Government Changes

Germans held together by family ties and
loyalty, not government (CLANS)
Germanic warriors pledge loyalty to their
chief; live in lords hall
Small communities are governed by
unwritten rules and traditions

Start of the Church

How the Church Spread
Frankish rulers convert Germanic peoples to Christianity
Missionaries travel to convert Germanic and Celtic groups
Monks opened schools, maintained libraries, copied books, and wrote
scholarly works.

Monasteries
Monasteries preserved
Greco-Roman cultural
achievements monks
were the few who could
read and write = literate
Parish priests served
religious and social needs
of the people

Monastic Life
Monks and nuns went to
the monastery church eight
times a day in a routine of
worship that involved
singing, chanting, and
reciting prayers from the
divine offices and from the
service for Mass.

Monks
Monks were required to
perform manual labor and
were forbidden to own
property, leave the monastery,
or become entangled in the
concerns of society.
Daily tasks were often carried
out in silence.

Nuns
Monks and their
female counterparts,
nuns, who lived in
convents, provided
for the less-fortunate
members of the
community.
Monasteries and
nunneries were safe
havens for pilgrims
and other travelers.

Germans Adopt Christianity

Papal Power Expands Under Gregory I

In 590, Gregory I, also called Gregory the Great, becomes pope

Under Gregory, Church becomes seculara political power
Popes palace becomes center of Roman government
Uses Church money to raise armies, care for poor, negotiate
treaties
Establishes a Christendomchurchly kingdom fanning out from
Rome

An Empire Evolves
Charles Martel Emerges

Most powerful official in kingdom is major domomayor of the palace

In 719, major domo Charles Martel becomes more powerful than king
Defeats Muslims from Spain at Tours in 732; becomes a Christian hero
Son, Pepin, begins Carolingian Dynastyfamily that ruled 751987

Charlemagne Becomes Emperor

From Pepin to Charlemagne
Pepin dies in 768, leaves
kingdom to two sons; in 771 one
son dies
Second son, Charlemagne
(Charles the Great), rules
kingdom

Charlemagne Becomes Emperor

Charlemagne was first crowned the king of the Franks
Later, in 800 CE he was crowned by the POPE, Leo III as the
emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
This enraged the Eastern Byzantines because their ruler was not
selected
The Church and Charlemagne depended on each other. The Pope
needed the support of his army to protect the church,
Charlemagne gained support from his people because he was
viewed as having god on his side

Charlemagne Becomes Emperor

Charlemagne Leads a Revival
Charlemagne limits nobles power by governing through royal agents
Encourages learning and orders monasteries to open schools
Travels all over his kingdom to ensure that his vassals are ruling
correctly and not abusing their power.

Charlemagne Becomes Emperor

Charlemagnes Heirs
Charlemagne dies in 814; his son, Louis the Pious, rules poorly
Louiss three grandsons fight for control of empire
In 843 they divide empire into three kingdoms; sign Treaty of Verdun

Feudalism in Europe
during the Middle
Ages

The Middle Ages or Medieval Period or

Dark Ages

Barbaria
n
Invasion
s cause
the
Fall of the
Western
Roman
Empire

Rise of
New
Kingdom
s/States
that are
not
united

New
Kingdom
s are
unable
to
protect
themselv
es from
Barbarian
Invasions,
causing a
need for
localized
Protection

The
Rise of
Feudalism
in Europe

Feudal Europe Power Pyramid

The Pope

King
Lords/Nobles
Knights
Peasants

Key words Essential to Feudalism

FEUDALISM:
POLITICAL SYSTEM

Decentralized, local government

Dependent upon the relationship
between members of the nobility
Lord and his vassals administered
justice and were the highest
authority in their land

MANORIALISM:
ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Agriculture the basis for wealth

Lands divided up into self-sufficient
manors
Peasants (serfs) worked the land
and paid rent In exchange for
protection
Barter the usual form of exchange

Popes
Leader of Church
Popes were seen
as
representatives
of God on Earth.

Kings
Leader of Kingdoms/ States
All lords/nobles and knights swore
an oath of loyalty to the king to
protect the land.

Nobles/Lords

Swore loyalty to the

king and were given
land called fiefs to
protect

Knights

Armored warriors that

protected the land.
They often received
fiefs for their
service.

Peasants
At the lowest level of society were the
peasants, also called serfs or villeins.
The lord offered his peasants protection
in exchange for living and working on his
land.
Peasants worked hard to cultivate the
land and produce the goods that the lord
and his manor needed.
They were heavily taxed and were
required to relinquish much of what they
harvested.

MEDIEVAL LIFE
Cooperation and
Mutual
Obligations
KING

Fief and Peasants

Military Aid
Loyalty
LORDS (VASSALS TO KING)

Food

Protection

Shelter

Homage
Military Service
KNIGHTS (VASSALS TO LORDS)

Food

Protection
Farm the
Land

PEASANTS (SERFS)

Shelter
Pay
Rent

Protection from who?

1. The Vikings invaded from
Scandinavia- They were quick and
savage. They attacked Ireland, England
and France. They looted and captured
people to sell into slavery. Most
Europeans lived in terror of them

2. The Magyars from Asia

3. The Muslims (from South)

Vikings, Muslims and Magyars Invasion Map