Download Early Middle Ages AD 500- 1000

Early Middle Ages
AD 500- 1000
Early Middle Ages
A. Learning and Civilization Declined, but it
was a great time for Germanic Kings and
Warriors
B. New society had three roots:
1. Classical heritage from Rome
2. Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church
3. Customs of Germanic tribes
Early M. A.
• C. By 600, Priests were almost the only literate Europeans
• D. Changes in citizenship:
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1. German tribes took over Roman lands
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2. Family ties and personal loyalty bound society
together (beginnings of Feudalism) – a contract between
serfs (produce food), nobility (protection)
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3. People belonged to a family and followed one leader
(like a TRIBE or CLAN)
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4. They felt no obligation to obey a king who was a
stranger
Early M. A.
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E. Christianity won new followers
1. Roman Catholic Church was the strongest civilizing
force in W. Europe
2. In the 300s and 400s Christian missionaries spread
beliefs to German & Celtic groups
3. Clovis, leader of N. Gaul, converted to Christianity –
won more German tribes over
4. AD 511 Kingdom of Clovis was divided among his
heirs
F. Benedictine rule
1. Monasteries – communities of Christian men or
women
Early M.A.
2. Lived according to rules of: poverty, chastity,
obedience
• 3. Benedict was a monk who wrote a book of rules
for monastic life (Benedictine rule)
• 4. Monasteries operated schools, maintained
libraries, and copied books (manuscripts); these
were the leading scholarly centers of the day
Monk copying a book
Early M.A.
• G. Pope Gregory the Great
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1. Made the papacy an office of political & spiritual
power
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2. Foresaw a churchly kingdom, ruled by a pope – this
idea became a central part of the Middle Ages
• H. Charles Martel – “The Hammer”
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1. Led the Franks and defeated a Muslim army in Spain
at Battle of Tours in 732 ; this checked the spread of Islam
in Europe
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2. Son, Pepin the Short, takes control in 741: forced the
Lombards out of Rome area, giving control to the Pope
(Papal States)
Early Middle Ages
AD 500- 1000, Day 2
Charlemagne and the Vikings:
• I. Charlemagne
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1. King of the Franks (768-814)
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2. Forced people to become Christian
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3. Conquered with his armies: by 800, had lands in Italy,
France, Germany, and N. Spain (larger than Byzantine
Empire)
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4. First to unite W. Europe since the Romans
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5. His court became a center of learning – the
Carolingian revival
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6. Crowned emperor by Pope LeoIII – Holy Roman
Empire
II. The Vikings:
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1. From Scandinavia; still pagans, worshiped warlike
gods (Thor, etc.) and had names like “Eric Bloodaxe”
2. Raided European settlements from Ireland to Russia,
AD 800-1000
3. Were traders, farmers, and explorers
4. Settled Iceland; explored Greenland (Eric the Red)
and Newfoundland in N. America (Leif Ericson)
5. Had kingdoms in Ireland and much of England –
stopped there by Alfred the Great in 886
Vikings (Cont.)
• 6. Last great raiders of
W. Europe
• 7. Settled down in
many areas; such as
French Normandy
(Northmen or
Norsemen = Normans)
• 8. Adopted
Christianity, decline
after AD 1000
Feudalism:
• A. A highly
decentralized form of
govt. that stressed
mutual protection b/w
monarchs & nobles.
• B. Land for loyalty &
military aid.
• C. Most of Europe
was using this system
Feudal Relationships:
• A. Fief-estates w/peasants, became manors
• B. Manors were self sufficient
• C. Lords took oath of loyalty in exchange
for power over Manor
• D. Knights provided protection for Manor
& King
Knights:
• Code of Chivalry:
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1. be brave in battle
2. fight fairly
3. keep promises
4. defend the church
5. treat women of
noble birth in a
courteous manner