the middle ages - brookings school district studies/middle ages... · knights who were loyal to...
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Europe After the Fall of Rome
After Rome fell, people in Europe live in many
different areas and groups
Many areas were controlled by warlords
Several small kingdoms were established in Europe
The Franks were the most powerful group to emerge
Charles the Great (Charlemagne) was the most powerful
Frankish leader
Eventually crowned by Pope Leo III as the new Emperor
of the Romans
Invaders
Many barbarian groups were still traveling around
Europe and causing problems
Most fearsome group was the Vikings
Most nobles could not count on protection from their
king
Developed a new system for society: Feudalism
Feudalism – People provide work or military service to a
noble in return for the use of his land
Feudalism
Kings gave their land to nobles
These pieces of land were called fiefs
Nobles gave their land to knights
Knights who were loyal to nobles were called vassals
People who worked the land for the knights = serfs
Serfs could not leave the land on which they worked
Feudalism Feudalism spread all throughout Europe during the
Middle Ages
Spread as people were conquered
William the Conqueror took over England in 1066
Battle of Hastings
As a result of feudalism, towns grew
New inventions led to more food = less farmers
Trade expanded, people wanted to make money in cities
Popes and Kings
Popes (leaders of the Christian Church) worked very
hard to spread Christianity
Eventually, almost everyone in Europe was Christian
Popes became powerful leaders, along with kings
Kings and popes controlled all of society
Popes lived like royalty and were very wealthy
Popes and Kings
One Empire established during the Middle Ages was
the Holy Roman Empire
Popes led this empire, but there was an Emperor
Emperors were supposed to protect the Pope
Often, Popes, Kings, and Emperors fought for power
and control
The Crusades
During the Middle Ages, Muslims controlled the Holy
Land and the Christians wanted it back
Popes called on Christians to capture the Holy Land
These attempts were called Crusades
There several Crusades (at least 8)
None of the Crusades were very successful
Crusades had many effects:
Increased trade, new ideas and inventions
Tension between Religious Groups
Political and Social Change
In 1215, England commoners forced King John to
sign the Magna Carta
This document guaranteed rights to common people
Everyone had to follow the law (even the king)
Many ideas from the Magna Carta are in the US Constitution
From 1328 – 1453: Hundred Years’ War
England wanted to take over France
French finally pushed England out France in 1453
Political and Social Change
The Black Death (1347 – 1351) was one of the most
disastrous events in the Middle Ages
In 4 years, 25 million people were killed by disease
Disease went from rats fleas people
The Black Death basically ends feudalism and towns
continue to grow