Download The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages
500 ce to 1450 ce
German Influence
• The Germans introduced their own culture to
the old Roman Provinces
• The Germans did not continue the Roman
tradition of education, technology, or
government.
• The Germans did bring their own religious
traditions and did introduce monarchies.
Cultural Diffusion
Germans
• German law states that
crimes are against
individuals
• German Pagan religion
beliefs
• Germans blend their
languages with Latin to
create the modern
European languages
Romans
• Roman law states that
crimes are against the state
• Former Roman provinces
continue practicing
Christianity
• Latin continues to dominate
All written documents
The people of Europe blend Roman and Germanic law to form Werguild.
This form of law allows for monetary fines as well as physical punishment.
Germanic pagan holidays are combined with important Christian concepts to
Create Christmas and Easter.
Who is in Charge?
• Monarchial Structure of
Feudalism=political
structure
• King
Lords
Vassals
• Knights
• Serfs
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Roman Catholic Church
Pope
Council of Cardinals
Cardinals
ArchBishops
Bishops
Priests
Monks
Serfs
Who is in Charge?
• The Lords ruled over the physical life of a serf.
• A serf is a peasant who is bound physically to
the land controlled by the lord. The Lord has
ownership over the slave in every way.
• The Serf worked for the Lord and provided
military service. In return the Lord gave the
serf a home, farm, and protection in times of
crisis
Who is in Charge?
• This system of responsibilities was called
Manorialism. The Lord’s plantation was called
a Manor. His home, often a castle, was the
center of the civilization. The serfs provided
the lord with labor, food, and taxes. The Lord
took these items as payment for providing the
serfs with mills, blacksmith shops, and homes.
• The Lord then passed the taxes and food to
the King.
Castle Diagram
www.castles.org/Kids_Section/Castle_Story/images/kidcastle1.jpg
http://www.sbschools.org/schools/xrds/technology/middleages/images/berryjune.jpg
Manorialism
The Kingdom of the Franks
www.tacitus.nu/historical-atlas/francia.htm&usg
The Franks
• THE KINGS WERE CALLED MEROVINGIANS BECAUSE THEY DESCENDED
FROM MEROVECH WHOM THE FRANKS BELIEVED TO BE THE SON OF A
DIVINE CREATURE.
• The most famous Merovingian king was Clovis who ascended the throne
about 482 AD. He was already from the beginning of his reign forced to
fight rivaling Frankish leaders whom he brutally killed. Clovis’ conquests
were however far from over and he attacked and defeated the Germanic
tribal confederation of the Alemanni about 496 AD from which he added
large territories to his realm. The influence from his queen Clotilda
persuaded him to convert to Christianity after the battle against the
Alemanni. Clovis’s decision to join the Catholic church gained him respect
from neighboring tribes.
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The Franks
• Clovis’s appointment to Roman Consul by the East Roman
emperor increased the prestige of the Frankish kingdom and
gave their claim to be an heir to the Roman Empire greater
credibility.
• When Clovis died in 511 the kingdom was divided between
his four sons. This followed a pattern that would be
repeated during the following centuries and meant that the
Frankish kingdom was only united during short periods.
The Merovingian kings were however very belligerent and
many of them died before they had any sons, which
prevented the kingdom from being permanently dissolved.
But a consequence of the divisions was that the
Merovingians, in an increasing extent, fought more among
themselves than with external enemies.
The Franks
• When Pepin of Heristal died in 714 , his six year old grandson
Theudoald became the new Major Domus. (Mayor of the Palace)
Pepin’s illegitimate son Charles Martel however did not accept this
transition of power and proclaimed himself Major Domus and
became the first ruler of the Carolingian dynasty, which definitely
deprived the Merovingians of their power. The following decades
were spent on wars when the Carolingians tried to reconquer the
lost territories and ward of attacks from the Arabs, whose invasion
in 732 was repulsed in the battle at Poitiers (Tours). An alliance
with the pope led to two successful campaigns against the
Lombards 754 and 756. At the same time the Carolingians
strengthened their power within the Frankish kingdom, and Pepin
the Short deposed the last Merovingian in 751 and had himself
elected king. Charles had created Fiefs=land grants to his vassals
and knights.
The Franks
• Pepin the Short died in 768 and left Western Europe’s
strongest kingdom to his two sons Charlemagne and
Carloman. The latter died in 771 and Charlemagne
could use the resources of the unified kingdom to
expand it in all directions. When the Lombards
threatened the Pope again, Charlemagne invaded Italy
and made himself king of the Lombards in 774.
• The subjugation of the Saxons in the northeast (772804) was a long and bloody affair. To break the Saxons'
will to resist, Charlemagne massacred thousands of
them, and only through deportations of Saxons and the
resettling of Franks and Slavs in their place was the
region finally pacified.
• The Conquests of Charlemagne were so huge that
people thought he had restored the West Roman
Empire. Charlemagne was crowned as the “New
Roman Emperor “ by the pope in 800.
• However, the Frankish tradition to divide the kingdom
between the kings’ sons made the unity only
temporary. The Frankish kingdom was also a feudal
state that was held together by lucrative wars of
plunder in the neighboring countries.
• Therefore the Frankish Empire collapsed after the
death of Charlemagne in 814 under internal and
external pressure.
• The events of 887-888 meant the final
dissolution of the Frankish Empire. Because
West Francia was the only remaining part of
the Carolingian’s empire after 911ce it became
known as France.
Charlamagane’s Achievements
• Created an Empire and united Europe for the
first time.
• Created the Missi Dominici to spy on his
vassals and lords to ensure they were loyal.
• Became the Protector of Christianity and the
Pope.
• Revived Education, provided educated clergy
to the Catholic Church.
• Charlemagne revived classical studies of Greek
and Roman works.
• Monks preserved these classic works of
Literature.
• Monks copied books and spread Christianity
across Europe.