Download The Middle Ages: Europe

The Middle Ages: Europe
A.D. 450 – 1300
Key Terms
Roman Empire – What contributions did the Roman
Empire make to Europe? Military stability and unity What
happened in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
Hostile invasions of the Germanic tribes, the Visigoths,
Lombards, Franks and Anglo-Saxons resulted in war and
chaos
Feudalism – Describe this social caste system. Vassalage –
one lord swears allegiance to another in exchange for
privileges. Feudalism is a hierarchy; at the top of the
pyramid is the king, followed by his noble, knights, then at
the bottom, the serfs or peasants
Charlemagne – Why is he called the Father of Europe?
Charles the Great, King of the Franks, was crowned Holy
Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III. His reign resulted in the
stability and unity not found in Europe since the Romans
Crusades – What were the Crusades? Christian knights
fought in eight major crusades. What did they experience?
Pope Urban II urged European knights to reclaim the Holy
Land, Israel and Jordan, from the Muslims. Ultimately, the
mission was a failure; however, the knights were able to
bring back spices, textiles and other products. This created
a desire for trade in the east – The Silk Road. Towns in
Europe became large cities.
The Code of Chivalry – Who followed the code of Chivalry
and what did it detail? Knights practiced chivalry, the term
comes from the French word for horse. Knights pledged
loyalty and were obliged to protect and defend the weak,
especially women.
Courtly Love – Who practiced courtly love? Courtly love
was a platonic relationship between lords and ladies. What
was its purpose? The love of a woman was believed to give
the knight spiritual purity.
Important Dates
The Roman Empire falls in 476, yet Christianity remains
throughout Europe. It is the one unifying element among
the warring European nations.
 600s A.D. – Buddhism spreads throughout Tibet.
 711 – The Moors invade Spain
 778 – Charlemagne battles the Moors and by 1800, he
has dominion over most of Western Europe.
 800s – Viking invasions.  Pillaging and plundering!
 1066 – William the Conqueror (a rumored descendent
of the great Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Great who
lives in France) decides England should be his. He
invades and conquers!
 1095 – Crusades to claim the Holy Land from the
Muslims.
 1215 – King John of England signs the Magna Carta!
Due process is a good thing!
 Late 1300s – Universities, towns along the Silk Road,
windmills and papermills! It’s time to begin a
Renaissance!
Literature of the Middle Ages
Latin was the language of the church and the court.
Commoners spoke their own vernacular language (Old
English, Old Dutch, Old German, etc.) and could not read
or write Latin.
 Epic Heroes from the North: Germany, Iceland,
Scandinavia (oral tradition)
 Troubadour Poetry – Southern France. Poems about
Courtly Love.
 Romances pp. 596 – 597
1. What is the origin of the word romance? The French
word roman means novel
2. What is a legend? Traditional stories from the past that
are based on historical fact
3. Describe the romance hero. A knight, king or brave
warrior who follows the code of chivalry which values
courage, virtue, piety and loyalty. Another
characteristic of the hero is his humble origins; he
later discovers his heroic identity.
4. What was the nature of the heroic quest? The hero’s
dangerous journey in search of something valuable
5. What were supernatural elements in a romance?
Exotic or magical settings, werewolves
6. What are symbols and archetypes? Symbols are
people, places, things, or animals that suggest a
meaning larger than itself. Archetypes are symbolic
elements that appears in literature, mythology or
folklore from many different cultures. Water is an
archetype associated with life and rebirth in many
cultures.