Download The Middle Ages

 Unit Test Review
Time period between 500 – 1500 C.E. – roughly between
the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the start of
the Renaissance period. Known also as the Dark Ages or
Medieval period. Usually described as a time in Europe
when invasions, disease and illiteracy were common and
the Roman Catholic Church grew in power and
influence.
 Germanic Invasions – created the immediate cause of
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the fall of Rome and this led to the following problems
throughout Europe:
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Disruption of Trade
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Cities were abandoned
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Loss of a common language
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Loss of established & proven government
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Loss in the appreciation of education / learning
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Germanic Kingdoms Emerged
Rise of Feudalism
Power of Catholic Church grew rapidly
Europe became rural
No emphasis on learning
New languages replaced Latin
Early signs of European countries started to
appear
First King of the Franks – known for unifying the
Frankish kingdom through Christianity.
 A. Pope who called for the 1st Crusade
 B. Surgeon who identified the cure for the Black
Plague
 C. Christian hero – for defeating the Muslims from
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invading Europe at the Battle of Tours in 732 C.E..
 D. Writer of the 90’s hit, “Can’t Touch This”
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 Son to Charles Martel and father of Charlemagne –
crowned king and founded the Carolingian Dynasty.
 A. Greatest of all Frankish kings – unified most of
Western Europe
 B. Also known as Pope Leo III, called for an end to
simony
 C. King of Byzantine, the Plague was name after him
 D. Germanic handyman who invented velcro
 crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor in the
coronation ceremony in 800 C.E.
 The Shogun
It represented the pope being more powerful than the
emperor.
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Frankish
 Tall
 Educated
 Christian
 patron of education - funded the building of schools
throughout his kingdom
 to spread Christianity throughout Europe.
 He divided his vast empire into more than 200 smaller
districts, each governed by a ruler of his choice. He
also developed a group of gov. spies called the MissiDominici who would report to Charlemagne in person
on the status of these districts and the administration.
 It stopped the Islamic religion from spreading any
further into Europe.
 The Germans were closely connected by family ties
and loyalty as compared to the written law and strong
legal system of the Romans.
 Gaul
 Ostrogoths
 Italy
 Visigoths
Spain
 Anglo-saxon
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 England
 Franks
 France
 The Frankish Dynasty started by Pepin the Short - and
known for their great king Charlemagne.
 The heart of feudalism – usually meant warriors
(knights) swore loyalty to a lord, who in turn took care
of his needs.
The economic, social, and political system of Medieval
Europe, founded on the element of vassalage. Feudal
caste system was developed in order from highest to
lowest – king, noble, knight, peasant, serf –
 Serf – lowest position in feudal society, considered an
early form of slavery, bound to the land they live on.
 Fief
 The lord’s estate (fortified castle) and village – where
peasants and serfs lived and worked it consisted of
everything people needed - ( mill, church, fields,
animals, blacksmith, village stores)
 A heavily armored professional Calvary warrior
 The code of ethics for medieval knights in Europe:
 ( respect, honor, loyalty, promise, generosity )
 It helped bond (unite) the people together - hope for
eternal peace.
 He created the norm or principles for catholic
monasteries.
 Lowest – highest: (local priests, bishops, arch
bishops, cardinals, pope)
 Cardinals elect the pope with majority vote.
 Religious communities for men (Monks) -built by the
church.
 Important – monks could receive an education and it
was one of the safest places to live in a very chaotic and
dangerous medieval society.
 a) Missionaries /
 b) Clovis /
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 c) Attacks by Muslims, Vikings, and Magyars
 Person who does not conform or believe in a particular
religious doctrine.
 Church law – applied to everyone, even the King
The practice of appointing church officials by kings and
nobles without church approval.
 Means worldly
 Religious ceremonies
 Religious community for women – ( Nuns ) – built by
the church
 Being banned of membership from the church
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Church officials
Church Tax ( 10% )
 It was the one constant variable – most people could
connect with that brought some type of uniformity to
a bleak and dangerous time period in Europe. It also
grew in power very rapidly and became involved in the
political aspect of society – not a good idea in the long
run for the church.
 They are holy wars for European Christians – whose
ultimate goal was to reclaim Jerusalem in the name of
Christianity and out of the hands of Muslim control.
Lasted approx. 200 years, starting in 1095.
 a) Socially – gave knights someone new to fight, other than
themselves – many knights were causing havoc in feudal societies
throughout Europe – mainly due to boredom this would get them out
of Europe for a while. It also provided a sense of adventure for many –
people were curious what life was like other than at home.
 b) Economically - many were looking for new wealth and riches – esp.
if you were a younger son and didn’t stand to collect your father’s
inheritance – than this journey looked appealing to you
 c) Politically – provided an opportunity for the pope to gain new
territory and wealth – as opposed to his rival the emperor of the
Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox Church
 d) Spiritually – any person willing to go on crusade and fight and kill
the infidels (Muslims) or be killed would receive a golden ticket to
heaven – a chance to redeem all your sins and go to heaven – so
obviously this was appealing to many esp. some knights who felt they
were going to !^@%$@ as they had been told by their priests for their
behavior.
 The Muslim leader that reclaimed Jerusalem for Islam
in 1187. This would launch a Third Crusade, in which a
truce would be made between the two armies- stating
Jerusalem would remain under Muslim control while
unarmed Christians could visit the holy places of the
city.
 * Trade was expanded between the west and east
 * Feudal nobility weakened – due to the loss of lives
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in relating to knights and nobles
Persecution of the Jews
Power of the church weakened – due to the failure
of the crusades
Cultural Diffusion – Christians brought back new
ideas, technology, education
Sparked a bitterness and hatred between Christian
and Muslim that still exists today
 > Unethical behavior by clergy
 > Failure of the Crusades
 > The inability of the church to stop the plague of
Justinian (Black Death)
 Alexis I – Byzantine Emperor and head of the eastern
Orthodox Church
 Pope Urban II
Referred to as the black death or bubonic plague –
carried/ transported by infected fleas on rats – killed an
estimated 100 million people – devastated Europe’s
population – it actually gave more rights and economic
power to the peasants – because demand for labor went
up and food prices dropped.
 It limited the power of the monarch (King John) in
England and guaranteed certain rights for the people –
this document also influenced our founding fathers
here in the United States when they were designing
our constitution and democratic government.
 France – use of the cannon by the French changed the
war in their favor – ultimately changing warfare
forever
 * New weapons: England = Longbow
France =
Cannon
 * Early signs of European countries appeared:
England & France
 * England and France developed professional
standing armies for the first time since the Roman
Empire.
 Young lady (17) years old – who acquired a vision from
God that she was to be used in winning the Hundred
Years War for France. She convinced King Charles VII
to allow her to lead the French army in the Battle of
Orleans – she was victorious – however she was
captured soon after and tried and convicted of heresy
and was burned at the stake.