Download Intro to the Dark and Middle Ages

Intro to the Dark and
Middle Ages
Effects of the Fall of Rome
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Germanic tribes took over Roman lands.
Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place of
the Western Roman Empire in Europe.
Initially, there was no system for collecting
taxes.
Kingdoms were always at war with one
another.
People lost interest in learning.
Warfare increased. Trade decreased.
The “Dark Ages” began.
The “Dark Ages”
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Historians call the period following the fall of
Rome the “Dark Ages.”
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Formally, this period is known as the
beginning of the Middle Ages.
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It was a time of increased warfare, decreased
trade, and a decline in learning.
Disruption of Trade
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Merchants’ businesses were destroyed by
barbarians
Unsafe to trade
No Trade = No Cultural Diffusion
Downfall of Cities
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People retreat to countryside to evade
invaders
Lack of central government administration
More people live in rural areas than urban
centers
Decline of Learning
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Germanic tribes were illiterate and had no written
language
Illiteracy + Lack of Written Language = NO
VALUE ON EDUCATION
Loss of Common Language
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Germanic invaders did not speak Latin
Various dialects form from mixing Latin and
Germanic languages
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By the 800s, French and Spanish had evolved
No Common Language = NO UNITY
Germanic-style Government
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Allegiance to family tribes as opposed to a
state
No central authority; lack of an emperor
No loyalty to a king; no “Hail Caesar”
The Rise of Europe
The Early Middle Ages
During the early Middle Ages, Europe was a
relatively backward region cut off from the
advanced civilizations of Byzantium, the Middle
East, China and India. Between 700 and 1000,
Europe was battered by invaders. Slowly a new
civilization would emerge that blended GrecoRoman, Germanic and Christian traditions.
Clovis and the Franks
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In 481 C.E. Clovis united the Franks and
became their king.
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Clovis converted to the Roman Catholic faith.
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Essentially, the Franks blended Germanic and
Roman cultural practices.
The Franks & Christianity
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The leader of the Franks,
Clovis, converted to
Christianity to appease his
wife and to repay God for a
victory (similar to
____________________)
Rome supports Clovis &
aids his military campaign
to unite all Franks
The Franks & Christianity
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The Church builds monasteries to convert
German
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Monastery a religious community of men
(monks) who have given up their possessions to
devote themselves to a life of prayer & worship
The Franks & Christianity
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Importance of monks
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Opened schools & maintained libraries
Human printing press  copied books; preserved aspects of
Roman intellect
Gregory I
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Pope Gregory the
Great increases the
power of the papacy by
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Becoming involved in
the secular world
Raising armies
Giving charity to the
poor
Gregory believed the
people of Europe were
his responsibility
Charlemagne
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Charlemagne became king of the Franks in 768 A.D.
He tried to recreate the glory of the Roman Empire.
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He conquered a vast empire and was proclaimed
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo
III.
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He gave land to his nobles in exchange for their
loyalty and military service.
Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne “Holy
Roman Emperor”.
During his reign, Charlemagne tried to
recreate the Roman Empire. However,
after his death, the empire declined.
Legacy of Charlemagne (Holy Roman Empire)
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Revival of Latin learning
Extended Christian
civilization into northern
Europe
Set up strong, efficient
governments.
Began Holy Roman
Empire. (Germany)
Could not repel further
Viking and Magyar
invasions.
The Rise of Feudalism
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While Charlemagne’s descendants were not
able to recreate the glory of the Roman
Empire, the Franks did greatly affect life in
the Middle Ages.
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Indeed, the Frankish practice of giving land to
nobles in exchange for loyalty and military
service spread throughout Western Europe.
Stabilizing Medieval Europe,
700-1000
Stabilizing Medieval Europe
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New Economic order:
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Feudalism
Manorialism
The Role of the Catholic Church
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Regulating Marriage
Regulating Sexuality
Blessing Secular Rulers
Feudalism
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Political System = Decentralized
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Economic System = Agricultural
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Social System = Hierarchical
Feudalism – What is it?
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Has variously been described as:
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A political system / government
An economic system
A social system
A psychological state / mentalité
Feudalism
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Medieval people would not have
recognized the term feudalism, but would
have talked about vassalage
Vassalage
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Occurs between two free people, a lord and his
vassal
Solidified by ceremonial swearing of oath of homage
Vassal promises allegiance and military service to
lord
In return lord grants land
Initially the land was held conditionally
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No service, no land
Typical Elements of Oath
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One’s own name and the name of one’s lord
The fiefs, lands that will be held
Promise of allegiance and service
If one is a vassal of multiple lords- outline the
order of loyalty
Typical Elements of the
Ceremony of Homage
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Vassal approaches usually unarmed and
kneels before his lord
Swears oath on Gospels, church altar or holy
relics and in front of witnesses
Relationship is sealed with the kiss of peace
Complicated Loyalty
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Vassals could and often did have multiple
lords
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For this reason, oaths of loyalty could specify the
order of loyalty
Oaths of loyalty could also affect the actions
of the seemingly extremely powerful
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i.e.: even kings were limited by their own oaths of
loyalty
Feudalism and Medieval Households
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The Three Categories of Society:
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Those Who Work: Peasants or Serfs
Those Who Fight: Knights
Those Who Pray: Clergy & Religious
Patterns...
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25-50 peasant families support one knight
90% of the population are peasants
Peasants owe 3 days/wk of service + fees to
lord. Fees are required : to marry, to inherit
Knights owe 40 days/year service to lord to
fight and must supply armaments, horses, etc.
Patterns...
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Farm output is about 10% of today’s
Midwestern farm.
Peasants (serfs, not slaves) are bound to land
but have rights to the land
Manors are economic and military units, with
fortifications for defense (a castle), may also
be controlled by monastic order or church.
Medieval Manor
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Evolved from
Latifundium
and Need for
Protection
Castle: Fortification
Manor House: Fortification + Wealth
Peasant House
Peasant House
Women Could and Did
Participate in Feudalism
Adela of Blois
Adela of Blois (ca 1060-1137)
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Daughter of William the Conqueror
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Husband sent on Crusade
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Acted as feudal lord in his absence