Download The Crusades

Medieval Europe
Intro/Life/Church
Introduction
• By 500 AD, Germanic Invasions had all but
destroyed the urban world of the Roman Empire
– Trade Declined
– Cities, bridges, and roads fell into disrepair and disuse.
– Law and Order Vanished, and education almost
disappeared
– Money was no longer used
– For most, life did not extend beyond the tiny villages
where they were born, lived and died
– Dark Ages
Dark Ages
• Western Europe was so backward because of this
decline that the early part of this period was once
call the Dark Ages
• Medieval- Latin for Middle Age
– Transition between ancient and modern times
• Out of this violent medieval period, or Middle
Ages, a dynamic civilization arose.
– Combined elements classical and Germanic cultures
with Christian beliefs
Medieval Life Review
• Feudalism- highly decentralized form of
government that developed in western Europe.
Stressed alliances of mutual protection between
monarchs and nobles of various degrees of power.
– Land given to nobles in exchange for loyalty and
military aid
• With the land came peasants to farm it
• Nobles also had powers over land usually reserved for
governments
Medieval Church
• The decline of Rome led the church to
assume many political and social tasks
– Bishop of Rome, now the Pope, became the
strongest political leader in W. Europe.
– The Pope claimed spiritual authority over all
Christians
– After the fall of Rome…the church takes on the
central authority
Religious Role
• Church taught all were sinners
• Only way to receive grace was through
sacraments
• Most people did not understand rituals
– Priest spoke in Latin and most could not read or
write
• Much was learned from statues, paintings and
stained glass windows that adorned most churches
Church Organization
• Same as early Christian Church
• Remember the hierarchy?
• Secular Clergy
– Pope
– Bishop
– Priests
• Regular Clergy- included Monks and Nuns
that lived away from the rest of society
Benedict’s Rule
• Founded a monastery at Monte Cassino
– Became a model for monks in other
communities
– Rules for work, meditation and prayer
Monastic Life
• Monks dressed simply (robes)
• Rule of silence
• Women- known as Nuns
Influence of Monastics
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•
•
•
Provided school for young
Hospitals for sick
Food for needy
Some became missionaries
Missionary Efforts
• Pope Gregory I adopted the Benedictine
Rule to spread Christianity to all of Europe
– Mid 1000s AD- Most western Europeans had
become Catholic
Power of Church
• Many Bishops and Abbots were nobles who
received land
• Local lords began to control many church
offices and lands- contrary to church
tradition- appointing leaders
– Signs of corruption
Church Reform
• Many devout Christians called for reforms
– Began in monasteries
• Goal of reforms:
– Free Church from control of feudal lords
• Reforms:
– Pope would be chosen by cardinals
– Pope would appoint bishops and other officials
Fighting Heresy
• Pope Innocent III- condemned drunkenness,
feasting, and dancing among clergy
• Stop spread of heresy (denial of basic
church teachings)
– Convert first/ crush later
The Inquisition
• Court set up to seek out and punish heretics
– Many accused without proof
• Punishments- prison or death
Rise of European Monarchy
-After decline of Rome…no central authority existed until
the 1100ADs when many European monarchs began
building strong states
England
• Alfred the Great united the Anglo-Saxons
kingdoms
– United kingdom=England
• William the Conqueror won the throne
– Began to strengthen powers of monarchy
• Magna Carta (Thomas Becket)
– Placed clear limits of royal power
– *Government becoming increasingly representative
Holy Roman Empire
• Germany’s central government remained
weak
• Pope and monarchs struggle for power and
territory for years
– Strengthening monarch threatened church
power
The Crusades
Europeans undertook a series of military expeditions (9) to
reclaim the holy lands (Jerusalem) from the Muslims.
Why did the Christians consider these lands holy?
-This was where Jesus was killed and resurrected…
Why did the Muslims consider these lands holy?
-This was where Muhammad ascended to heaven…
In the 600s AD, Jerusalem fell to Muslim Arabs. Christians and
Jews were allowed to live there peacefully…
In the 1000s ad, the Seljuk Turks (Muslims from Asia) took
Over and closed the city to Jewish and Christian pilgrims…
1st Crusade
November, 1095ad
Pope Urban II addresses
crowds imploring them
to take back the holy lands
“God Wills It!”
June, 1099AD- Jerusalem
falls to the Europeans.
Religious fever cools down… But Tensions are rising between
Muslims and Christians!!!
2nd Crusade
Less than 50 years later, The Seljuks recapture part
Of the Palestine states…
Pope Eugenius IV calls for the second crusade…
It fails… They were easily defeated…
This crusade only lasted from 1147-1149AD.
3rd Crusade
In 1187AD a forceful leader named Saladin united the Muslim
Forces and took back Jerusalem… Europe was horrified!
Many kings, including
King Richard I of
England assembled
warriors for a third
crusade (called the
“Crusade of Kings”)
After three years of
fighting King Richard
called a truce…
Many other crusades followed… none were successful.
Results of the Crusades?
The result of the Crusades is
hard to determine…
-Land gained from the
Crusades was later taken back.
-Europe lost many men in the
Crusades, but for what?
-Did they win anything?
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