Download Middle Ages known as the Dark Ages

MEDIEVAL AGES
(500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)
What were the Middle Ages?
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…the era between 500 to 1350 a.d.
…known as “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Era”
…after downfall of Romans, barbarian tribes plundered European countryside
…West – splintered remains of classical world
…East – wealthy with Byzantine and Muslim influences
•…violence and chaos reigned, but loyalties and changes took hold.
•…the time period in which classical influences from Greece and Rome were
temporarily lost to the general populace; which created an environment of
ignorance, corruption and violence.
•…”fend for yourself” or “die”.
•…the Franks became the most influential of the barbarian tribes in modern-day
Germany and France.
Where did the Middle Ages begin?
Who helped to create
the Middle Ages?
Frankish leaders
Clovis
• Around 481 a.d.
• No conscience, brutal, violent
and cruel
• Supported Christianity
• Name of the “Franks”
Pepin II
• Around 700 a.d.
• “Mayor of the Palace”
• Created hereditary leadership
for medieval world
Charles Martel
• Known as “the Hammer”
• Around 732 a.d.
• Stopped Muslim advance into
Western Europe
• Removed threat of Islamic ideas in
Christian lands
Pepin III
• Known as “the Short”
• Around 760 a.d.
• Crowned by Pope (with the grace of
God)
• Pope’s gain spiritual and political
power
• “Donation of Pepin”
• Formation of alliance between church
and state
Charlemagne
• 768 – 814 a.d.
• Greatest king of Medieval Europe
• Intelligent, religious and
had little formal education
• Conquered, united and maintained an
empire in Western Europe
• Title of “Emperor of the Romans” (close
ties between Franks and church)
Charlemagne’s system of government…
•100’s of regions ruled by a Count
•Each region possessed its own military of armed knights, laws and lands
•Capital at Aachen (modern-day Germany)
•Usage of Missi Dominici, who were the “eyes and ears of the king”
•Little to no taxes
•Every individual was to contribute to the kingdom in his or her own way
Charlemagne’s beliefs about education…
•Create schools to educate all in one fashion or another
•Scholars would be used from all over Europe
•Produce a usable, vernacular-translated Bible
•Create libraries and encourage the copying of religious texts to promote literacy
•Christianity based
•Convert to Frankish and Christian ways - accept baptism in
Christianity - or be executed
When Charlemagne’s kingdom was torn apart by internal strife,…
it opened the door for another “barbarian people” to
influence the European continent…
they were the…
VIKINGS
Who were the
Vikings?
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Most feared of all European invaders in the 800’s and 900’s a.d.
From Scandinavia, not Minnesootaaah!
Known as “Vikings, Danes, North men or Norse men”
Misunderstood throughout history, as the label of violent and crude was
only one aspect of Viking society.
The Vikings were a significant reason why medieval society survived and thrived
throughout its difficult existence…
without the Vikings, the assimilated, multi-cultural society that would develop
in Europe would never have been.
To deal with the
ever-changing violence of
medieval life, two distinct ways
of survival developed to
maintain a sense of
organization and to help
protect individual kingdoms.
They were feudalism and
manorialism.
Feudal System
DESCRIPTION
OF
FEUDAL SYSTEM
pp. 186 – 190
READ, READ, READ
Manor System
Other important influences on
the Middle Ages…
The Church…
Medieval Church…
•…became the backbone of society, as
Christianity was the core of most medieval lives
•…administered the sacraments and led life by
example
•…belief that faith in Christ, living a life of
morality and participation in the sacraments
would lead to salvation
•…was main “rival” of kings, as both desired
similar things during this era – such as land,
influence, titles, money, power, etc
Medieval Church
Pope
"Spiritual and Secular leader of the Christian Church"
Curia
"advisors to the Pope"
"very influential"
known as Cardinals
Archbishops
"regional supervisors"
Bishops
"local supervisors"
Priests
"administered the sacraments"
"teaching about livlihood and morality"
Monks/Nuns
"provided basic social services"
"hospitality, providers, educators"
• …creation of monasteries and
convents
• …became a spiritual and secular
power
• …rising conflict between
“secular kings” and “papal
supremacy” (would lead to
difficult times between kings
and popes)
Medieval society…
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Cultural
Entertainment and games
Festivals and celebrations
Superstitions
Coats of Arms
Weapons
Tortures
Oddities of Medieval life…
12th, 13th and 14th Centuries
The code of conduct during the Medieval Era
was called…
Chivalry
Characteristics of
chivalry…
• A code of conduct for
knights and nobility
• “simply complex”
• Proof of worthiness, loyalty,
courtesy, personal, selective
respect and arrogance
• Coat of arms and
standards
• Basis for medieval behavior
• Applied only to nobility,
not commoners!
Entertainment and Games…
• Bear baiting, gambling, cock fighting, drinking, songs, dance, chess, jousting,
sword fighting, theater, jugglers, story telling, art, church festivals, marriage
or funeral processions, poetry, music, acrobats, performing animals, plays,
bonfires, sports, tournaments, archery, hunting, falconry, melees…
Also, a major development in
the Middle Ages…
Towns during the
Middle Ages…
• Centrally located, crowded,
dirty, cramped conditions,
disease, fire, smelly, organized
chaos and all sorts of people
• Development of trade routes
and trade organizations, called
“leagues”
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Vernacular languages (local dialects/slang was used)
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Development of educational institutions in Paris, Oxford, Bologna and
Salerno…better known as universities
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Towns/cities led to –
1) Freedom and more rights
2) Exempt Status (a year/a day)
3) Town Justice
4) Commercial Privileges
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A new mentality will arise in towns/cities, as the common people will
gain more prestige, confidence and rights in society
Weapons…
…in-class
presentation
Growth during the Middle Ages …
•development of “common law” – laws that apply to everyone…representative
assemblies of the people.
•Magna Carta (1215) – kings can not rule as they please; creation of “due process of
law”; legal equality; everyone must obey the law.
•rising conflict between spiritual leadership (pope) and secular leadership (king) over
who holds real “power” throughout the medieval era.
•Growth brought problems – jealousy, greed, disease, overcrowding,
inflation…benefits – equality, opportunity, learning, “global mentality”
Other medieval events…
•Agricultural Revolution – inventions/innovations to improve farming – iron
plows, harnesses for horses instead of oxen, windmills, 3-field system
•Commercial Revolution -- $ (or capital) was needed for investments,
partnerships/guilds (union), insurance on business ventures, bill of exchange,
tenant farmers, creation of a middle class, rise of usury ($ loans) (Jewish
stereotype)
•Revival of trade – demand for needed/exotic items intensified, trade
companies/routes, trade fairs, creation of medieval cities/towns, usage of
What were the Crusades?
•Christian efforts to recapture the “holy land” from Muslim control
•Unite Christians with a common sense of “cause” under “papal” leadership
• “God wills it!”, Pope Urban II and Innocent III
Effects of the
Crusades…
• Bitter
hatred between Islam and Christianity
• Social improvements from cultural exchange
• Luxury trade goods – fabrics, spices, perfumes
• Increased trade – sugar, cotton, rice, knowledge,
technology
• “assimilation”
• Development of money economies
• Feudalism declines because of city influence
• Tension between kings and popes –
who will hold power over the people?
• Foreign travels to the East – Marco Polo
• Expanded medieval horizons (curiosity)
• Inquisition – Church persecutions for control
Black Death…
•What was it? A disease spread by fleas on rats
•Types? Bubonic and Pneumonic
•Effect on society?
Killed 1/3 to ½ of the
population of Europe
All events and actions of the
Middle Ages are leading to…
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the creation of new ideas and curiosity
the development of towns and cities
a re-focus on learning
a global mentality
a community sense, based on Christian ideas
a renewed pride in European society and human capabilities
an opportunistic attitude about the world at large
MEDIEVAL AGES
(500 a.d. – 1350 a.d.)