Download Aim: What happened to Western Europe after the collapse of the

Unit Essential Question: How did feudalism, the manor
economy, and the Church shape life in Western Europe as the
region slowly developed a new medieval culture?
Aim: What happened to Western Europe after
the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?
The Early Middle Ages c. 500-1000
After the collapse of Rome, Western Europe entered a period of
social, political & economic decline.
Largely cut off from advanced civilizations in the Middle East,
China & India.
Do you think that other civilizations used the same term for that period?
Why or why not?
Medieval civilization = Latin words for “middle age”
Dark Ages or not?
“Dark Ages”
Period of intellectual darkness that occurred in Europe
following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire
Dark Ages
http://www.history.com/topics/middleages/videos/dark-ages-barbarians-ii---the-saxons-camelotbegins
List evidence of the ‘dark ages’ from this clip.
II. Geography
Europe
Location:
Relatively small
Eurasia
II. Geography
Resources:
‘Frontier Land’ – sparsely
populated, undeveloped area
on the outskirts of a
civilization
Europe had potential!
Dense forests
Rich earth
Mineral resources
Seas = food/transportation
Rivers = trade
III. Rise of Germanic Kingdoms
Germanic Tribes =
conquered Roman
empire
Goths, Vandals,
Saxons, Franks
III. Rise of Germanic
Kingdoms
Clovis = King of the Franks,
preserved Roman legacy,
Christianity
Charles Martel = rallied
Frankish warriors & pushed
Muslims out of “France” @
Battle of Tours
Germanic Groups
http://www.history.com/topics/middleages/videos/who-were-thevikings?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=f
alse
What image do the barbarians paint of Germanic tribes?
http://www.history.com/topics/middleages/videos/charles-martel-repels-themoors?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=fa
lse
What would have happened if Charles Martel was not
successful at the Battle of Tours?
IV. Before & After Charlemagne
786 = King of the Franks
Briefly united Western
Europe, built an empire
across France, Italy and
Germany
Revival of learning
814 – Died -> empire split in
3
New wave of invasions
(Vikings, Magyars, Muslims)
People needed protection feudalism
Charlemagne
http://www.history.com/topics/charlemagne/videos/t
he-reign-of-charlemagne
List the accomplishments of Charlemagne. Which do
you think had the most lasting importance? Why?
Group Work
Directions: Look at your event and
fill out graphic organizer.
Let’s Summarize!
Based on today’s lesson and
your introduction to the
Middle Ages, do you believe
the Medieval Era was a
period of darkness?
Aim: How did feudalism and
the manor economy emerge
and shape medieval life?
Do Now: Describe loyalty, and
describe a situation in which it is
important for someone to be
loyal.
EXPERIENCING EUROPEAN
FEUDALISM
FEUDALISM
• Feudalism = a loosely organized system of rule in which
powerful local lords divided their landholdings among
lesser lords.
• Vassals – lesser lords
• Feudalism was born out of:
• 1. necessity to protect against invasion
and
• 2. landowners need for defense
• Society was very strictly organized with rulers and ruled
knowing their place.
• System provided military defense AND food.
HIERARCHY
• Oaths of Fealty
(Allegiance) – feudal
contract
• Feudal contract –
exchange of pledges
established by custom
and tradition
• Exchange of land for
loyalty and military
services
• Chivalry – code of
conduct for knights
FIEF = ESTATE
MEDIEVAL CASTLES
MEDIEVAL CASTLES
MANORIALISM: THE ECONOMIC BASE OF
FEUDALISM
*Manors
are SELFSUFFICIENT
PEASANT LIFE
• SERFS = peasants
bound to the land
• *Not slaves
• Life is extremely
harsh for peasants
Aim: How did the Church
shape Medieval life?
Do Now: Can the church replace the role of the
government? Has it ever tried? Was it successful?
CHRISTIANITY IN THE MIDDLE
AGES
I. Ways of Expansion
Missionaries = People
who try to convert others
to a particular religion.
Many sent by the Pope.
• Monks/Nuns: Religious
men/women who lived
apart from society in
isolated communities.
• Monasteries & convents
St. Benedict: 530
Set of rules to regulate monastic life
Three vows: obedience, poverty &
chastity
II. Church Keeps Order
• Collected taxes from
the people
• Took care of people and
orphans
• Build churches and
cathedrals
• Pope became very
powerful, more
powerful than kings.
III. Church Preserves Knowledge
• Collapse of R.E. = books were
burned, libraries destroyed,
scholars killed
• People forgot how to read and
write, very little was written
down. Science, philosophy, and
literature disappeared.
• Clergy = only people who were
educated and literate
• Monks preserved and copied
down Greek and Roman books
by hand.
IV. Church Supports Culture & Art
• ALL art and culture was
sponsored and supported
by the Catholic Church.
• Art & Architecture was a
way of teaching Christian
ideas to the illiterate.
• Church built cathedrals
• Church became recreation
center at times.
V. Church Supports Education
• Church set up schools
• Main purpose was to
train young people to
become priests and
other church officials.
TURN & TALK
Should the Church have this much power and
influence over daily life?
INDEPENDENT READING
ACTIVITY
QUIETLY!!!!! read AND annotate the Christianity in the
Middle Ages handout. Then, complete graphic organizer.
EXIT:
Based on today’s lesson and your introduction to the
Middle Ages, do you believe the Medieval Era was a period
of darkness? Is there a better title?
AIM: How did changes
in agriculture and
trade lead to the
growth of towns and
commerce?
The
Dark
Ages
Age of
Feudalism
Age of
Faith
Golden
Age
Do Now: Think back to the
previous week and the unit
we began on the Middle
Ages. What information could
you put in each portion of
the chart to support the title
for the Middle Ages?
The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales is the world's weirdest road trip!
It tells the story of a group of pilgrims (fancy
word for travelers) on their way to
Canterbury, who engage in a tale-telling
contest to pass the time.
What does the prologue of The Canterbury Tales tell us
about the changes that happen in the middle of
Medieval Times?
The Commercial Revolution
 Changes
in Europe = 1000
-Set foundation for economic prosperity


Peasants adopted new farming technologies
Agricultural Revolution
(Iron Plows)
Led to:
 Production
& Population Growth
 Revival of Travel & Trade
 Commercial Revolution
 Rise of the Middle Class
 Improved Town & City Life
Vocabulary








Charter – written document
set out the rights and
privileges of the town
Capital – money for
investment
Partnerships – groups of
merchants joined together
Tenant farmers – paid rent
for their land
Middle class – ranked
between nobles and
peasants
Guilds – merchants and
artisans formed associations
Apprentice – trainee
Journeymen – salaried
workers
Create a Medieval Town
Use your phones and class resources to help you research the
different elements of medieval towns and cities and create a
new town that needs to get approved by the Lord of the
realm. One member of each group, at random, will be asked
to give a presentation for approval.
Exit:
Based on today’s lesson and your introduction to
the Middle Ages, do you believe the Medieval Era
was a period of darkness? Is there a better title?