Western Europe in Western Europe in the Middle Agesthe Middle Ages

Fall of Rome untilFall of Rome until

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Pages 650 to 656Pages 650 to 656

Early Middle AgesEarly Middle Ages

Charlemagne, a skillful general, united much of the Western Roman Empire in about 800.

Set up efficient government

Spread Christianity Encouraged revival

of learning and the arts

FeudalismFeudalism

Many invaders entered WE after the death of Charlemagne

In response, a military elite emerged

Feudalism- a system of rule by local lords who were bound to a king by ties of loyalty developed.

Feudalism continuedFeudalism continued

Each person has a fixed place in society

King

Lords

Vassals

Knights

Peasants and Townspeople

Feudalism continuedFeudalism continued

The king is the head of society and grants fiefs, or estates, to powerful lords.

The lords owed the king total loyalty and obedience in return.

Feudalism continuedFeudalism continued

The lords divided their fiefs among vassals, or lesser lords.

Vassals further divided their fiefs among knights, or mounted warriors.

Everyone from lords to knights were nobility.

Feudalism continuedFeudalism continued

Bottom of society- lived on the land of a lord, owed service to the lord in exchange for protection

Most peasants were serfs, meaning they were tied to the land and not allowed to leave the estate.

Status of WomenStatus of Women

Subordinate to men- father, husband, or brother has complete authority over her

Marriages arranged to benefit families

House work, raise children

Jewish CommunitiesJewish Communities

Jews were persecuted and discriminated against

Forbidden to own land

Limited to certain professions

Blamed for diseases Still maintained

stable communities

The Manor EconomyThe Manor Economy

Manor- included a village and the surrounding lands administered by a lord.

Each manor was self-sufficient

Peasants spend 4 days farming for their lord and 2 farming their own farm

Peasants owed some of their harvest to lord.

Remember…Role of Remember…Role of the Churchthe Church Played major role Turned to Christianity for guidance Church officials advised kings and

nobles A document written in 1075 outlined

the powers of the pope- including the power to dispose of an emperor

continuedcontinued

Many people joined monasteries and convents- spread Christianity, cared for the sick

Provided education- Set up schools and universities

Supported the arts- Gothic cathedrals

Expanding HorizonsExpanding Horizons

By the late 1100s feudalism had declined and trade and travel increased

As merchants gained wealth they negotiated charters, or written documents that guaranteed certain rights to townspeople.

Slowly, a middle class emerged

The CrusadesThe Crusades 1095- Pope Urban II

called for a crusade to take the Holy Land from the Muslims

For 200 years Christians fought Muslims in the Middle East

Some crusaders thought they were doing God’s will, some wanted to get goods, others wanted to escape debt and taxes

Contact with AsiaContact with Asia

Europeans brought knowledge, goods, technologies, and resources back from the Middle east

In 1348 ships returning from Asia brought back the bubonic plague- The Black Death

Killed 25 million Europeans in 5 years

The Bubonic PlagueThe Bubonic Plague

Flea-infested rats got onto European ships and spread the disease.

Symptoms Blisters, red or black High fever Chills Headache Swollen glands ulcers Extreme exhaustion Delirium

Constant grave digging Christians blamed Jews Some thought it was a

punishment from God “The End of the World”