Download The Early Middle Ages 500 – 1000 CE

The Early Middle Ages
500 – 1000 CE
What empire continued in the East as the Western Roman Empire fell?
What was happening in Western Europe?
Barbarians have invaded and conquered throughout the West
But one cultural characteristic
unified Western Europe.
What do you think it is?
Christianity
The Church became an
example of moral authority at
a time of chaos and
lawlessness
Power and Authority in Europe from 500-­‐1000 CE • The Church was the most
powerful institution in the West
• It organized itself based on
the structure of the Roman
Empire
• It united the people of
Europe during this difficult time
• It sought to revive the Roman
• Empire
The Pope was so powerful that he had
the power to anoint Emperors.
Pope Francis I The Church
developed a
structure and
hierarchy based
on the
Roman Empire
Pope Bishops Local Priests Medieval society was rooted in Chris9anity, the classical heritage of Rome and the customs of the Germanic tribes. Germanic Customs • The Germanic tribes had no wriDen language-­‐ literacy declined. Most people in Europe at this 9me could neither read nor write. • Germanic tribes were ruled by family and loyal friends rather than governments. • Monasteries preserved GrecoRoman cultural achievements.
The most important books, like
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, were
preserved in monasteries.
• Missionaries carried Christianity
and the Latin alphabet to Germanic
tribes
• Parish priests
served the social,
religious and
political needs
of the people.
Armenian Monastery Monastery in Greece Manasija Monastery, Serbia Many historians refer to this
period in history as The Age of
Faith. Why? With your
neighbor, make a list of reasons
why.
The Germanic tribes continued to invade and conquer
Europe. The Frankish kingdom was established by Clovis
who was the first Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity.
• Frankish kings used military power to expand their territory • The alliance between Frankish kings and the church reestablished Roman culture in Western Europe One King in particular would
unite all of the Frankish
kingdoms into an Empire – his
name was Charles the great or
Charlemagne.
Charlemagne revived the idea of
the Roman Empire:
• Charlemagne spread Chris9anity and forced conversion throughout Europe • Churches, roads and schools were built to unite the empire. • Charlemagne expanded educa9on to all On Christmas Day, 800 C.E., Charles was
crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope before
cheering crowds.
After Charlemagne died, his kingdom was carved into three
kingdoms and then it fell apart. At the same time, invasions
from the north and west, left Europeans with no protection. It
was during this time that the system of Feudalism developed.
• The Vikings came from Scandinavia
(Norway, Sweden and Denmark) and invaded
Along the coasts and down the rivers into
Russia
• Angles and Saxons came from Denmark and
Northern Germany and settled in England
• The Magyars came from Central Asia and
settled in Hungary
• Muslims invaded from North Africa but were
stopped by Charles Martel in 732 CE at the
battle of Tours.
Feudalism Rises
•  A system of landholding and governing •  It was based on an exchange of protec9on for other services Lords give knights/vassals land (fief) in exchange for the knights’ promise to defend the lord and his land Feudal System
lords Feudal Society
•  Rigid (strict) class structure Fief
Vassal
Serf
Land given to a Vassal
from a Lord
The person receiving the
fief
Peasants who work the
land
The Medieval Manor
Manors with castles
provided protection
from invaders,
reinforcing the feudal
system.
Invasions disrupted
trade, towns declined
and the feudal system
was strengthened.
Manors were selfcontained – long
distance trade would
not develop with the
east until after the
crusades in 1096 CE.
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