Download CH2 MID AGES PPT

CH 2
EUROPE’S HIGH
MIDDLE AGES
THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS
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1066 ce
For the throne of England
WILLIAM
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The Bayeux Tapestry
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Propaganda
bias
VS
HAROLD
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM
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Based on the three “F”s
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The Feudal Contract
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Fief - land
Fealty- loyalty
Faith - religion
A series of obligations to each other bonded by an
“Oath of Allegiance.”
The monarch parcelled out blocks of land.
MEDIEVAL HIERARCHY
MONARCH (King)
GREATER NOBLES
(Barons)
LESSER NOBLES
MINOR NOBLES
COMMONERS
(Serfs/Freeholders)
THE MANOR
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KEY TERMS

Self-sufficient - mills, tannery,
bakehouse,well, blacksmith,church.
 Sustainable
 Lord’s demesne
 Bailiffs
 Three field system
 Fallow
ORDINARY PEOPLE
Serfs and freeholders did much of the
work but had the least.
 Serfs donated 2-3 days/week labour.
 5000 calories/day => bread & beer.
 Small homes with dirt floor and 1 room.
 No power or water and little furniture.
 Hard lives - men, woman and child
worked.
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LORD AND LADY OF THE
MANOR
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Lived well in comparison but still a simple life.
Had many privileges - servants, falcons,
horses, troubadours, furniture.
 Obligations - provide knights, to marry and
have children(marriage = power, not love),
provide the necessities.
 Boys were a priority - the land went to the
eldest son.
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Women had few rights.
Widows maintained land

many refused to remarry.
BELIEF AND DEVOTION
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Almost all Western Europeans
were Christians.
 People would be judged after
death.


Heaven or Hell ?!?!
No important event could
proceed without God’s blessing.
 Their place in society was all part
of God’s plan.
THE CHURCH
 Christians
could only practice
through the church.
 The worst thing that could happen
was to be excommunicated.
 Seven
Deadly Sins - (pride, anger,
envy, greed, lust, gluttony, & sloth)
 The
church had considerable
power – even monarchs.
 The church collected tithes.
 10% of income
 Some clergy became
very wealthy
MEDIEVAL LAW

Trial by Ordeal & Trial by Battle
 God
would determine innocence
Manor Courts- settled minor
disputes usually to do with
farming or property.
 Royal Courts – dealt with serious
crimes such as murder, treason,
rape and burglary.

 Used
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common law.
Church Courts – tried the clergy.
 Usually
gave out lighter sentences.
MEDIEVAL GEOGRAPHY
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Most were uneducated
and knew very little of
the world.
Journeys were
dangerous and outlaws
were common.
T-O maps placed
Jerusalem at the center
of the map.
Marco Polo
Silk Road - China
THE CRUSADES
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European Christians fought the Muslims for
control over the Holy Land (Palestine)
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Seven crusades in total.
Reasons to fight – place
in heaven, wealth, land,
adventure, excitement.
 Results – new ideas
brought home, trade,
knowledge, further
exploration.

ROYAL POWER AND DEMOCRACY
By custom the
monarch had
power.
 The Feudal Code
kept him honest to
the Barons who
would attack if
corrupt.
 A time when family
honour was of
great importance.
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ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE
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Most famous woman in Europe.
 Queen of both France and England.
 Fought in crusades and promoted women’s
rights – both uncommon.
 Spent 16 yrs. in prison.
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treason against her husband.
 her
sons included Richard
the Lion-Hearted and King
John I.
KING JOHN – The Robin Hood villain
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Lost the people’s support when
fought with the Pope.
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Excommunicated the King and
placed England under an
interdict (no religious
ceremonies).
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Broke Feudal Code with
Barons.
 Raised taxes and hired army to
fight his own people.
 The people rebelled and forced
him to sign the Magna Carta
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The first step towards democracy.