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The Middle Ages 476 – 1500 Version 3 Before the Middle Ages… THE ROMAN EMPIRE 27 BCE – 476 CE Largest Empire of history to that date REMEMBER Rome was not built in a day AND it did not fall in a day. Rome’s peak was about 200 CE. It took 276 years to collapse. Benefits of the Roman Empire More people had education. Better roads and bridges Sanitation in the cities and clean water. CULTURE LAWS So What Happened to Rome? Despotic – and crazy – emperors. Caligula was only one example. So What Happened to Rome? Not enough soldiers. The Germanic Tribes figured out how to fight the Romans – and WIN. So What Happened to Rome? Not enough tax money to support the military or public structures. The Church (Catholic) was unsure about fighting and giving up tax money in the 300s – 476. So what happened to Rome? Not enough slaves to support the Roman way of life. Problem began in the 300s. So what happened to Rome? The lead water pipes??? Creates infertility? Creates slower brain abilities? So what happened to Rome? 476 – A tribe called the Vandals invaded and sacked Rome. End of the Empire. THAT is where we get the term “vandalism”! What happened after Rome fell? The Dark Ages About 400 years of chaos. Germanic tribes only seeking loot taking from the weak. The Norsemen (Vikings) raiding from the sea. The Dark Ages: 400 - 800 Not much is known from this period. Few people could write. Few people had time to write. No real art comes from this time in Europe. The Dark Ages There were “spots” where civilization hung on. Christian monasteries in remote locations. Tended to be looked at by people as another type of magic. AND …. The Age of Arthur? Was there a King Arthur? Somewhere between 500 – 600 - ARTHUR The Mabniogion Arthur wasn’t really a “king” like we think of it. He was probably a Roman – Celt cavalry commander left after Rome deserted Britain. Arthurian Legend in Britain What we can guess at being true about Arthur: He kept the invading Angle and Saxon tribes from taking complete control. He had a huge victory that kept the Angles/Saxons away for a generation.. He had the time to try to care about justice. Later in the Middle Ages the Arthur story was made “appropriate” Le Morte D’Arthur in 1485. Arthur was made a king. Christianized story. Women were subservient / unfaithful. Round Table and Knights searching for the Holy Grail. There were probably other “Arthur’s” in the Dark Ages .. Stories and legends. The “Arthur’s” tended to lose in the end. And History is written by the victors. Now – for some of the “real” history Things we know for sure! By the 500s Germanic invasions had all but destroyed the Roman world. Law and order disappeared. Infrastructures like roads, bridges, buildings fell apart. Frankish Rulers Franks – (France) – Merovingian kings Charlemagne and the Frankish Empire The Merovingians 400s the Franks Germanic Tribe conquered and settled in France / Germany. 481 Clovis became king of the Franks. King Clovis Brutal king BUT became a Christian. Saw that Christianity had some educated people that he needed to help rule his domain. Problems for the Merovingians Frankish custom to divide your land among all your sons. Heirs began to kill each other for their inheritances. So busy fighting the governing was left to the MAYORS OF THE PALACE. Charles Martel – Mayor of the Palace 714 Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) more or less took over in all but name. Led the Franks to defeat the Muslim invasion in 732. Charles the Hammer’s son: Pepin the Short 752 – Pepin finished off the Merovingians and bought off the Church and nobles. Became King of the Franks. Convinced the Pope that he could be his “protection.” Pepin’s Son: CHARLEMAGNE 771 Charlemagne became king. Doubled the size of his kingdom to include Germany, France, northern Spain and most of Italy. Created the Frankish Empire Charlemagne needed help with his empire Needed communications Needed educated men to help Charlemagne needed ….. THE CHURCH The Church started to create schools and monasteries to teach reading and writing. Made illuminated copies of the Bible and Roman manuscripts. Spread the knowledge around the empire. First time in 300 years. A Christian Realm under Charlemagne Defending the Pope against the Lombards (another Germanic tribe) in 800 – Charlemagne had an interesting “problem” come up. Charlemagne an EMPEROR? Pope Leo III thought it was a great idea if HE crowned Charlemagne emperor. Charlemagne liked the idea of the power of being an emperor too - BUT Charlemagne as Emperor? BUT what does it mean if the Pope crowned him? The pope had more power than the emperor. Charlemagne did not like that idea. Emperor Charlemagne Pope tricked Charlemagne into being emperor. Charlemagne’s Empire Divided land among COUNTS. Solve local problems Stop feuds Protect the weak Raise taxes and armies. Charlemagne’s Empire Sent royal messengers on inspections to tell him how counts were doing. Charlemagne was constantly traveling to see for himself his kingdom. 814 Charlemagne died. Son Louis the Pious was more concerned about the purity of his soul than ruling. Charlemagne’s grandsons went to war for his kingdom. The end of the Franks Charles the Bald took over what is today France. Louis got what is today Germany. Lothair took a strip between the North Sea to Italy. 800 – 1000: New Invaders VIKINGS! The VIKINGS Came from Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland) Called themselves Northmen or NORSEMEN. Viking Invasions TRIVIA: Viking comes from AVIKING (fight as a warrior). Had GREAT boats Sturdy in oceans Shallow enough to go up rivers. Could be carried past fortified bridges. Viking Invasions Brutal. No mercy in battle. What couldn’t be stolen they’d burn. Viking Trade They also explored and settled in other countries. Dublin (capitol of Ireland) was a Viking settlement. Viking Trade Since no one else but Vikings were using the waterways – trade happened through them. Sometimes trade was more profitable than war. Viking Culture Worshipped many gods. Told EPICS about gods and men. Storytellers had special status. So did the CRONES. Vikings accepted Christianity BUT not until the 1100s. The Effects of the Germanic / Viking Invasions People became very isolated. Not much centralized control. Nobles and local people had to defend themselves. Trade declined. Medieval Life Feudalism Life of the Nobility Manorial System (castles) Feudalism: 900s - 1500 With weak central government – feudalism developed. Alliances of mutual protection between monarchs and nobles of varying degrees of power. Feudal Relationship Military service = land ownership. Fiefs – land with peasants. Warriors got a way to make money in exchange for being a warrior for a king or greater noble. This is where the knight began. Knights USUALLY cavalry fighters . Cost a lot for upkeep of horse and armor. In exchange for land nobles swore oaths of loyalty To kings or greater nobles. Promised to provide so many mounted warriors for the armies. Nobles, if they did their duty, could pass on their land to their heirs. Feudalism: A Pyramid Scheme King at the top. Middle was the various ranks of lords. Vassals were nobles who served a higher ranked lord. Nobles could pledge services to more than one lord! One Siboto of Falkenstein was pledged to 20 different lords! Worked as long as one of his lords didn’t declare wary on the other! Feudal Obligations Homage: The ceremony of making promises. Knight promises service to the king. The king promises fiefs to the knight. Usual Feudal Obligations Promised to bring a certain number of knights to fight for the king. 40 – 60 days a year of service to the king. Serve in the lord’s court Provide food and lodging if the lord came to visit. To pay for educating / dowry of the lord’s kids. Pay ransom for the lord. Castles for Defense No big surprise – warfare happened quite a bit. Every noble built a castle – fortified manor house – for defense. Castles for Defense In the beginning – mostly wooden fortlike structures with a great hall that everyone lived in. Castles for Defense Around 1100s castles began to be made of stone. Built on a hill or mound for defense. Maybe a moat? Inside the Castle Walls Square towers called KEEPS. Strongest part of the castle. Usually had the great hall for meals / celebrations. Some housing for the family of the noble. Dungeon? Inside the Castle Walls Surrounding the keep was the BAILEY. Large open area. Had buildings like barracks, storerooms, workshops, stables, chapel. Life in the castles Not so glamorous as the movies make out! Castles were for security – NOT comfort. Nor sanitation! Life of the Nobility Within his fief, a lord, or nobleman, had almost total authority. Collected rents Administered justice Keep away invaders who might try to take his fief. Life of a noblewoman Few – if any – rights. Could be wed by her twelfth birthday (sometimes younger) Husband chosen by father / brother. Have children and take care of the household. Often the doctor. Life of a noblewoman SOMETIMES, their husbands / fathers / brothers trusted them to do themen’s duties when they were at war or the king’s court. Entertainment for Nobles Tournaments! Hunting! Women and men did falconry and archery. Eating! Entertainment by traveling minstrels. Becoming a Knight Boy’s training began at 7. Became a page / assistant / in the house of another lord. Began to learn the use of weapons and some manners. Becoming a Knight At 15, if good enough, they became a SQUIRE. Assisted the knight, practiced using weapons. Had to prove himself in battle before he could become a knight. The Code of Chivalry Code for knights to be brave and… Fight fair Keep promises Defend the Church Treat women of noble birth courteously. RARELY kept to the code!!!! The Manorial System Usually the manor only produced enough food to support the peasants and lord’s household on the fief. Hunger could be a real problem with a bad crop year. Peasant Life Poverty and hardship. Rarely lived beyond the age of 40. Famine, diseases, war – peasants hardest hit. Peasant Life Lived in one room hovels, dirt floor, no chimney, maybe one or two stools and a table. Warmth came from sleeping together. Grain diet – very little meat. Strange thing: People rarely questioned the social order of their society. They accepted that nobles were “better” than serfs / peasants and had more rights. But: Acceptance of the social ladder also meant you knew your place and might have a bit more protection than if you were out on your own.