Download Early Middle Ages

The Early
Middle
Ages
SOL WHI.11
Early Middle Ages in Europe
 Early
Middle Ages- 400-800.
 Unofficial ending of Roman Empire (476
C.E.) start of Middle Ages.

Rome was in ruins.
 Germanic
tribes took over land from the
former Roman Empire.

Constantly at war.
 Middle
Ages = Dark Ages = Medieval Age
Germanic Tribes
 Ostrogoths-
Italy
 Franks- Northern Gaul (France)
 Bergundians- Southern France/Switzerland
 Visigoths- Southern Gaul and Spain
 Vandals- Africa
 Angles and Saxons- England
 Magyars – Northeast Europe
Franks
 Franks
would emerge as the most
powerful of these tribes.
 In the 500’s Clovis united the
Franks.


stretched his kingdom throughout
Gaul (modern-day France).
Converted to Christianity.
 Gained
support from Roman
Catholic Church
Franks
 As
a result from the threat of Muslim
attacks, the Franks reunited under
Charles Martel, the son of Pepin the
Middle.
 Charles
Martel (714-741) defeated
the Muslims in 732 at the Battle of
Tours.
Charlemagne
 After
Pepin the Short died,
Charles the Great
(Charlemagne) took over.

Grandson of Charles Martel.
 In
800, Charlemagne helped
put down a rebellion in Rome
led by Roman nobles.
 On
Christmas Day of 800,
Charlemagne was crowned
“Emperor of Rome” by Pope
Leo III.
Reason
Charlemagne as Emperor
 Charlemagne
helped to unite most of Europe
under Christianity.

Had support of Roman Catholic Church.
 He
tried to reestablish the Roman Empire.
 While this was unsuccessful he did have some
accomplishments:



He also created a unified form of Government
throughout Europe.
He spread Christianity.
He promoted Education and Learning.
Charlemagne as Emperor
 Charlemagne
died in 814.
 After his death his grandsons divided up
the empire into three smaller empires
(Treaty of Verdun).
 His empire eventually crumbled because
of invaders.

Muslims from the south, Vikings from the
north, and Magyars from the east.
Charlemagne’s Legacy
 Spread

Christianity.
Became the main religion of Europe.
 Blended
traditions of Romans, Germans,
and Christians. (cultural diffusion)
Charlemagne Song
After song, look over notes for
mini review
Mini Review
 Who
took over the old Roman Empire lands?
(General answer)
 Locations of the Vandals, Anglo-Saxons, Franks
and Visigoths
 Charles Martel tribe
 Charles Martel defeated who and where?
 Who crowned Charlemagne emperor of
Rome?

WHY?
 Treaty
of Verdun
Vikings (videos)
 Vikings
were a group of people
that came from Northern
Europe. (Scandinavia)
 They were not a united group of
people.
 One leader would get together
several ships and some people
and go on a raid.
 They were very skilled on water.
 Throughout the late 700’s
through the 900’s they wreaked
havoc on Europe.
Vikings
 Vikings
used long wooden ships that
allowed them to go far inland on streams
and rivers.
 Their ships were called Drekar- This stands
for dragon-headed long ships.
Who else, besides the Vikings, were known
for their sailing abilities?
Vikings
Vikings
Europe in Trouble
 Following
the fall of Charlemagne’s
empire, invasions occurred throughout
Europe.

Europe was invaded by Magyars, Vikings,
and Muslims.
 This
led to people needing to defend their
lands and homes.

As a result feudalism began.
Feudalism (Video)
 Feudalism
is a loosely organized system of rule in
which local lords divide their land among lesser
lords.

The land lords were granted by the king was known
as a fief.
 Manors
- villages which made up the kingdom of
the king.
Feudal Society
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
King - monarch who ruled the kingdom.
Lords - controlled manors and pledged loyalty
to the king.
Vassals - lesser lords who managed manors or
fiefs.
Knights - mounted warriors who protected the
land of the lords.
Serfs/Peasants – lived on and worked the land
owned by Vassals.
Write this
Write this
Feudal Life
 Lords
had knights who defended their land.
 Also
powerful Lords fortified their homes to
withstand attack.

These fortified homes were known as castles.
Review Notes
Mini Review 2
1. Describe Viking Ships
2. Land granted to vassals
3. Main purpose of the creation of Feudalism
4. Peasant in the Feudal System were known as:
5. Controlled manors and pledged loyalty to the king.
6. Lesser lords who managed manors or fiefs.
What is the purpose of a
Castle?
Castles
 Castles
were very important in the middle
ages.
 Most lords had a small castle.

They provided shelter as well as protection
for people on the manor.
 Kings
had larger castles designed to
protect people of the kingdom.
Castles
 Most
castles during the middle ages were built in
a similar fashion.


All castles had large towers.
Most had draw bridges over a moat (ditch
surrounding castle)
 Moat
 Castles
were NOT usually filled with water.
were designed to be defensive structures
and not structures for beauty.
 Castles also included chapels, since religion was
important during the middle ages.
VIDEO
Knights and Chivalry
 Once
someone became knighted they
became protectors of their king.
 Knights had to live by a strict code known as
chivalry.
 Chivalry was the code a knight lived by, and it
meant being an honorable, courageous
person.

Chivalry required knights to be brave, loyal, and
true to their word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO28lnjtsQc
The Medieval Church
 The
Catholic Church played an important role in
Medieval life.
 Because of hardships of everyday life, Christian
teachings brought hopes of salvation (saved
from sin) to people.
 The church held the path to salvation.
 The path included seven sacraments.

Baptism, communion, confirmation, marriage,
confession, repentance, and last rites.
The Medieval Church
 Since
the church held the path to salvation they
had a great deal of power.
 The church also played a critical role in political
affairs.


Educated church officials advised kings and nobles.
The pope became one of the most powerful figures in
the world.
The Medieval Church
 Under
Pope Gregory VII (the Great) the
church began sending missionaries
throughout Europe.


Missionaries were sent to England and
Germany.
They converted people and this began
the church hierarchy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcJgB94KQOM
Church Hierarchy
POPE
Cardinals
Bishops
Priests
Feudalism vs. The Church
 Feudalism
threatened the power of the Church.
WHY/HOW?
 This led to clashes between the Pope and rulers
of Europe.

To combat this Pope Gregory VII issued the
Dictatus Papae.
 This
sought to give the Pope universal power through
the church and the power to depose rulers of
Christian countries.
Church Life
 In
monasteries monks and nuns preserved
education.

This led to church officials becoming
intelligent (smart) leaders
 Churches
also set up schools to educate
young men for church service.
When Europe comes out of the Dark Ages,
where do you think people will turn for
education and inspiration?
Benedictine Rule
 530
a monk named Benedict organized the
monastery of Monte Cassino in Southern Italy.

He set up rules to regulate monastery life.
 Under
the Benedictine Rule monks and nuns took
three vows.



Obedience to the abbot or abbess (head monk or
head nun)
Live in Poverty
Chastity – no sexual relations
Cathedrals
 Cathedrals
were built in a style that
became known as “Gothic”.


They were known for their high ceilings and
large windows.
They were built tall so that they could reach
the heavens and remind people of the
power of God.
Cathedrals
 Cathedrals
were always built in the shape
of a cross with the alter pointing towards
the north.


To the east was a stained glass window that
was illuminated in the morning.
To the west was a stained glass window
that was illuminated in the evening.