The Middle Ages and High Middle Ages: A Brief Overview

Western Europe 500 to 1300 A.D.

Satellite View of EuropeSatellite View of EuropeSatellite View of EuropeSatellite View of Europe

RREEGGIIOONNSS

RREEGGIIOONNSS

Part A: Middle AgesI. Foundations of Early Medieval Society

A. Old Culture: Greco-Roman (society was influenced by the cultures of the achievements of ancient Greek and Roman Empires)

B. New Culture: Germanic tribes invaded and brought their culture with them = a new European civilization arose based on Roman & Germanic values & traditions.

C. The Roman Catholic Church held much political power during medieval times

II. Charlemagne’s Empire

A. Brought short lived order to Europe in the middle ages

B. United Christian lands in W. Europe & alliance with the Catholic Church when crown Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope (Catholic religion was the unifying force in W. Europe)

C. Revived Roman culture

Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814Charlemagne: 742 to 814

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

Pope Crowned CharlemagnePope Crowned CharlemagneHoly Roman Emperor: Dec. Holy Roman Emperor: Dec.

25, 80025, 800

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses:Collapses:

Treaty of Verdun, 843Treaty of Verdun, 843

Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne’s Empire Collapses:Collapses:

Treaty of Verdun, 843Treaty of Verdun, 843

D. BUT INVASIONS = END OF CHARLEMAGNE’S EMPIRE

1. Effects:

a. Disrupted trade

b. Towns declined

c. No protection = enter into feudal agreements with land-holding lords who promised them protection. Most of Europe becomes ruled by independent local leaders.

d. Manors with castles provided protection from invaders reinforcing the feudal system.

III. Invaders & Influence:

A. Angles and Saxons from continental Europe invaded & influenced England

B. Magyars from central Asia to Hungary

C. Vikings from Scandinavia to Russia

D. Muslims invade Spain & halted in 742 at the Battle of Tours

IV. The Feudal System Explained

A. Provided social & political structure.B. The Church was a major landholder in the

feudal system & very powerfulC. A. Feudal Structure1. Lord: Granter of land. Powerful noble, grants

lesser noble land2. Vassal: Receiver of land. Could divided the land

& grant it to others if he wanted 3. Knight: granted land in return for protection &

services4. Serfs: Worked the land like slaves for protection

& food.

FeudalismFeudalismFeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

V. Manorial System

A. Manor System Explained 1. Rigid class structure: everyone had a specific job & place2. Self- sufficient3. Peasant Society

i. Serfs: could not leave without permission from the Lord

ii. Free peasants: Able to travel and move if they wanted to

The Medieval ManorThe Medieval ManorThe Medieval ManorThe Medieval Manor

Carcassonne: A Medieval Carcassonne: A Medieval CastleCastle

Carcassonne: A Medieval Carcassonne: A Medieval CastleCastle

Parts of a Medieval CastleParts of a Medieval CastleParts of a Medieval CastleParts of a Medieval Castle

VI. Influence of the Roman Catholic Church

1. Church authority is strong2. Church more educated; therefore Latin remain the

language of the educated (control knowledge); laid foundations for universities in W.E.

3. Missionaries spread religion & Latin language to Germanic tribes

4. Pope anointed the Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor (POLITICAL POWER)

5. Controlled 1/3 of land in Western Europe6. The Church & parish priests served the social, political, &

religious needs of the people

Gothic Architectural Style (do Gothic Architectural Style (do not write)not write)

Gothic Architectural Style (do Gothic Architectural Style (do not write)not write)

Pointed arches.

High, narrow vaults.

Thinner walls.

Flying buttresses.

Elaborate, ornate, airier interiors.

Stained-glass windows.

“Flying” Buttresses

Oxford UniversityOxford UniversityOxford UniversityOxford University

Part B: The High Middle AgesI.I. New nation-states emerging:New nation-states emerging: A. England (1066 to 1453):A. England (1066 to 1453):

1. 1. William the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror, leader of the , leader of the NormanNorman

Conquest, united most of England.Conquest, united most of England.2.2. Common law Common law & trail by jury had its & trail by jury had its beginnings beginnings during the reign of during the reign of Henry II.Henry II.3. Magna Carta3. Magna Carta

i. i. King JohnKing John signed the signed the Magna CartaMagna Carta, limiting the , limiting the King’s power & gave Parliament the right to King’s power & gave Parliament the right to regulate taxesregulate taxes

Magna Carta, 1215 (do not Magna Carta, 1215 (do not write)write)

Magna Carta, 1215 (do not Magna Carta, 1215 (do not write)write)

King John IKing John I

Runnymeade

“Great Charter”

monarchs were not above the law.

kings had to consult a council of advisors.

kings could not tax arbitrarily.

The Beginnings of the British The Beginnings of the British Parliament (do not write)Parliament (do not write)

The Beginnings of the British The Beginnings of the British Parliament (do not write)Parliament (do not write)

Great Council:

middle class merchants, townspeople [burgesses in Eng., bourgeoisie in Fr., burghers in Ger.] were added at the end of the 13c.

eventually called Parliament.

by 1400, two chambers evolved:

o House of Lords nobles & clergy.

o House of Commons knights and burgesses.

B. France (987 to 1453):B. France (987 to 1453):1. 1. Hugh CapetHugh Capet became king in 987 & his dynasty became king in 987 & his dynasty

would expand its would expand its control over most of France.control over most of France.2. The Hundred Years War: England v. France (1337-2. The Hundred Years War: England v. France (1337-

1453)1453)a. Served as a a. Served as a unifyingunifying force for the people of force for the people of England & FranceEngland & Franceb. The French & English began to develop national identities in their common cause

C. Spain (1492 to 1588):C. Spain (1492 to 1588):1. Ferdinand & Isabella unified Spain & expelled 1. Ferdinand & Isabella unified Spain & expelled Muslim Moors Muslim Moors 2. Spanish Empire in Western Hemisphere expanded 2. Spanish Empire in Western Hemisphere expanded under Philip II.under Philip II.

D. Russia(1462 to 1505):(1462 to 1505):1.1. Ivan IIIIvan III (the Great) (the Great)

a.a. threw off the rule of the Mongols, centralized threw off the rule of the Mongols, centralized power in Moscow in the hands of the tsar power in Moscow in the hands of the tsar (czar), and expanded the Russian nation.(czar), and expanded the Russian nation.

2.2. Ivan IV “Ivan the Terrible”Ivan IV “Ivan the Terrible”a. nobles rule until he is old enoughb. lay the foundation for Russia statec. but is unstable, kills own son

3.3. Times Times of Troubles = chaos• 1604-1613 period of disorder• Assembly of upper class chose new czar,

Michael Romanov, Romanovs rule until 1917

II. Crusades: Papacy sponsored a series of holy wars against Muslim domination of the holy land

A. A. Roots of conflict were complex:Roots of conflict were complex:1.1. Christian-Muslim conflict in Spain dating to Battle of Tours in 732Christian-Muslim conflict in Spain dating to Battle of Tours in 7322.2. Byzantine Empire invaded by Turks, need helpByzantine Empire invaded by Turks, need help

3. Rise of Turks in Middle East, (less tolerant than earlier Muslims)3. Rise of Turks in Middle East, (less tolerant than earlier Muslims)

B. MB. Motives of Church & participants were varied:otives of Church & participants were varied:1. Try to redirect feudal warfare outside of Europe1. Try to redirect feudal warfare outside of Europe2. Desire for land2. Desire for land3. Religious fervor, & promise of forgiveness of sin3. Religious fervor, & promise of forgiveness of sin

C. Key Events of Crusades:C. Key Events of Crusades:1. Pope Urban’s speech urging 1st Crusade, 1095 1. Pope Urban’s speech urging 1st Crusade, 1095 2. The capture of Jerusalem (by Christians)2. The capture of Jerusalem (by Christians)3. Founding of Crusader states3. Founding of Crusader states4. Loss of Jerusalem to Saladin (Muslims)4. Loss of Jerusalem to Saladin (Muslims)5. Sack of Constantinople5. Sack of Constantinople by western Crusaders (4th Crusade) by western Crusaders (4th Crusade)

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Pope Urban II: Preaching a CrusadeCrusade

Pope Urban II: Preaching a Pope Urban II: Preaching a CrusadeCrusade

Christian Crusades: East and Christian Crusades: East and WestWest

Christian Crusades: East and Christian Crusades: East and WestWest

D. Effects of CrusadesD. Effects of Crusades::

1. Reduce power of the church & nobles; 1. Reduce power of the church & nobles; strengthened monarchs strengthened monarchs

2. Stimulated trade in the Mediterranean 2. Stimulated trade in the Mediterranean area & the Middle Eastarea & the Middle East

3. Legacy of bitterness among 3. Legacy of bitterness among Christians, Jews, and MuslimsChristians, Jews, and Muslims

4. Weakened the Byzantine Empire 4. Weakened the Byzantine Empire (shrank), Constantinople fell to the (shrank), Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 Ottoman Turks in 1453

IV. The Plague/Black DeathIV. The Plague/Black Death

A. Impact of the Black DeathA. Impact of the Black Death::

1. Decline in population & scarcity of 1. Decline in population & scarcity of labor (1/3 of W. Europe dies)labor (1/3 of W. Europe dies)

2. Towns freed from feudal obligations2. Towns freed from feudal obligations

3. Decline of church influence3. Decline of church influence

4. Disruption of trade4. Disruption of trade