The Middle Ages of Europe

Unit 8Chapter 13

EQ: What is the legacy of the Middle Ages?

Transition into the Middle Ages

• Occurred after the Roman Empire fell

• Lasted from 500-1500• Roots from:– Classical heritage of Rome– Beliefs of the Roman

Catholic Church– Customs of some

Germanic tribes

Transition into the Middle Ages

• One of the reasons Rome fell was due to invasions by Germanic tribes.

• Results of these invasions included:– Disruption of trade– Downfall of cities– Population shifts – Loss of knowledge,

culture, and language

Transition into the Middle Ages

• Germanic kingdoms emerged after the fall of Rome

• Government changed– People were loyal to their communities, not to an

empire, written law code, or ruler

Germanic Peoples and Christianity• Eventually the Germans adopted Christianity– Clovis and the Franks• Baptized and established a lasting relationship with the

Church

– Mass conversions to Catholicism – Fear of other groups led people to convert

Charlemagne

• Charlemagne took over the Frankish kingdom and expanded his rule.– He reunited western

Europe and had the largest empire since Ancient Rome.

– After protecting different regions from invaders, he was named emperor by the pope.

Charlemagne

• Charlemagne’s empire eventually broke apart due to internal struggles of his 3 sons. – Each wanting control, they broke the empire into 3

kingdoms• Without a single powerful authority, a new

system emerged: feudalism.

The End of Charlemagne’s Empire

• Muslims and Vikings attacked the weakened empire

• Muslims attacked from the East and South

• Vikings attacked from the North. – Vikings were another

group of Germanic people

Feudalism in Europe

• Feudalism-system of governing and landholding– Focuses on rights and obligations

• Hierarchy: – King– Church Official (bishops)– Lord– Noble/Vassal– Knight– Peasant/Serf

Feudalism in Europe

• Kings ruled over the regions• Church Officials had authority in the church and would

advise the king• Lord’s owned large pieces of land (manors)• Lord’s would give Vassals (Nobles) pieces of land (fiefs)• Vassals/Nobles would hire knights to protect the land• Serfs were the poorest people, they were legally

bound to the land. – Not slaves, but anything produced on the land belonged to

the lord.

Chivalry

• Knights were loyal to their lord

• Chivalry-complex set of ideals– Knight must fight bravely for 3

masters:• Lord• God• Wife

– Knights were also defend and protect the poor

Women in the Middle Ages

• Women were deemed inferior to men– Encouraged through Church

doctrine• Noblewomen

– When a nobleman died, his wife would inherit the estate.

– Also had the ability to send knights to war, act as a military commander

• Peasant Women– Labor in the home and fields– Child bearing and rearing– Uneducated

The Roman Church

• Hierarchy of the clergy:– Pope– Cardinals– Bishops– Priests

• During the Middle Ages, the Church attempted to have both a religious and political influence.

The Roman Church

• Religion was a uniting force among feudal people.– Doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, all good

people go to Heaven, all bad people go to Hell.– The meek shall inherit the Earth– Sacraments (religious ceremonies) were given to

all, despite status. Ex: Communion

The Church and the Holy Roman Empire

• Holy Roman Empire = the new empire under the Germanic Nation.

• Lay investiture- kings of the empire could appoint religious officials– Why could this be a problem?

Charlemagne’s Empire: Disunity

• Multiple rulers tried to lead the Holy Roman Empire, however– Too many conflicts between the kings and the

Church– Internal battles between kings and the Lombard

League (a militarized group of Italian merchants)• No unity among the empire, only fragmented

pieces of feudal states.