LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

Kathleen Melfy

THE MIDDLE AGES 450-1300

Early Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages from 450-1000.

High Middle Ages were from 1000 to 1300.

Causes of the Dark Ages

Collapse of trades and towns.

Loss of literacy.

Personal ties replaced citizenship.

Barbarian invasions.

Role of Church in Dark Ages

Missionaries worked on converting barbarians.

Benedictine rules set up for monasteries.

Scholastica would set up the rules for all nunneries.

Church would become the heart of society for people.

Pope Gregory I raised standards for clergy.

Important People of the Early Middle Ages

Clovis—early Merovingian King,known as long haired ruler of the Franks starts a strong family of rulers.

Pepin the Short—Frankish King who worked with Pope to strengthen the Merovingian Power and line.

Charlemagne—Greatest Merovingian King who extended the empire to include all of modern day France, most of modern day Germany and the northern half of modern day Italy. He increased learning and required loyalty from all his subjects, including the clergy.

Rulers of the Late Dark Ages

Charles the Bald—Most of Modern France

Louis the German—Most of Modern Germany

Lothair—Land between the other brothers.

Feudalism emerges during Early Middle Ages

A political and military system based on the holding of land.

Bond was then formed between the lord and his vassal.

Redividing of a fief of land into the feudal pyramid became law.

http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa061898.htm

Feudal Roles of the Poor

Serfs—Most peasants. They were not free, but they were connected to the land. If the land was sold the serfs went with it.

Free peasants. Enjoyed greater freedom, but were only 5% of the population.

Peasant Duties Two to three days of labor each week on the lord’s lands. Portion of grain grown on the their land given to the lord. One out of every ten pigs given to the lord and it must be

slaughtered and dressed for the lord. A gift at Christmas and Easter of eggs and chickens. A tax on all grain ground in the lord’s mills. A tax when a serf married, only done with the lord’s

permission. A gift to the lord’s children upon their marriage.

Life Improves in the High Middle Ages

Farming improved with the invention of the 3 field system and the heavy plow.

Trade is revived.

Towns grew larger and richer.

Fairs were the center of trade, which included both local fairs and great fairs.

Guilds and Crafts in the Trades

Merchant guilds—controlled all the trade in the town.

Craft guilds—contained all of the skilled artisans.

Guild Functions

Set and enforced standards that all were required to follow.

Fixed prices on all goods. Paid for funeral expenses for its

members. Trained new workers and set up

the apprentice and journeyman system.

Religious Leaders of the High Middle Ages

Monks adopt stricter rules for their members.

Reformers end the abuses of simony and lay investiture.

Church’s provide many social services to the poor, hungry and sick.

Friars start to preach to the poor to convert them.

Outstanding Leaders of the High Middle Ages

William the Conqueror (1066-1087) took over England.

Hugh Capet of France started the Capetian dynasty that ruled for 200 years.

Otto the Great (936-973) ruled and help unite Germany.

Frederick Barbarsossa (1152-1190) was the first Holy Roman Emperor including most of Germany, part of Italy and some other surrounding lands.

Learning is revived and Spread in the High Middle Ages

Scholars start to gather at universities, which meant the teacher and the books, not the buildings.

Scholars rediscover Greek writings.

Books are hand copied at monasteries.

Poems and songs are written and the knightly heroes theory is started.

Goals and Consequences of the Crusades

Goals

Pope’s goals– reclaiming the holy land from the infidels.

Knights goals-as 2nd & 3rd sons in their families to earn fame and fortune.

Merchants goals-to increase trade and travel.

Consequences

Decline of Papal prestige. Decline in the power of

the nobles. Decrease in Byzantine

power. Increase in religious

intolerance. Increase in trade.