Download Medieval Timeline Part I The Early Middle Ages

Medieval Timeline
Part I
The Early Middle Ages: 500 to 1000
What lead to the Middle Ages?
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353 – Christianity became the official religion of the
Roman Empire.
400s – Germanic tribes began a mass migration into
the Roman Empire. A barbarian invasion. The
Roman army could not withstand the invasion of
their boarders.
500 –The fall of the Roman Empire (the western
part, the Byzantine Empire still stood). People
headed for the countryside & started farming.
Everything disintegrated (fell apart): Central
Government, law, schools, industry, trade, the use of
money. The only institution left standing was the
Christian Church! Latin was the official language of
the Church.
The Early Middle Ages: 500 to 1000
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Barbarian Kingdoms: The Angles and Saxons
set up a barbarian kingdom in England. (They
originally came from Germany.) The Franks set
up a barbarian kingdom in France.
– The Germanic Barbarians lived in tribes.
– Each Tribe kept its own customs and laws.
– Their tribal structure evolved into feudalism.
– They originated all the feudal practices: Lord-vassal
system, kingship, knighthood, chivalry.
– Barbarian warlords first ruled men; then they ruled
territory.
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600—Saint Augustine
Throughout Northern Europe, Christian monks
converted the pagan barbarians to Christianity.
From Rome, St. Augustine traveled to England
and spread Christianity throughout England. He
founded Canterbury Cathedral and became the
first Archbishop of Canterbury. Ever since,
Canterbury has been England’s religious center.
The cathedral became a holy place visited by
many pilgrims. Around 1400, Chaucer wrote
the Canterbury Tales, about a fictional group of
pilgrims.
 700—Beowulf
– the first great work of
English literature, sung by minstrels.
It glorified the warrior and defined the
qualities most admired by the AngloSaxons.
 711—Muslims invade Spain. They
ruled it for 700 years (711-1492)
 732—the Muslims invaded France.
They were defeated in the Battle of
Tours.
800 c.e. — Charlemagne
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He was the barbarian king of the Franks who conquered
Western Europe. From the north France was attacked by
Vikings, from the south France was attacked by Muslims.
When Charlemagne died, his empire fell apart, but three
things lived on:
He established the feudal system of government in France.
He spread feudalism throughout Western Europe.
He defended the Christian Church. HE was “Champion of
the Church.” Coronation: He was crowned by the Pope, so
the new (barbarians) were united with the old (Rome).
Song of Roland- An epic poem about Charlemagne and his
knights. Sung by troubadours, it glorified the knight. It
defined, explained, and popularized the code of Chivalry.
From then on, Chivalry became the ideal behavior of the
nobility.
900—Feudalism was the Lord-Vassal System
 Like Frankish kings before him, Charlemagne
practiced the lord-vassal system:
– The vassal said: “I swear to defend you.”
– The lord said: “In return, I provide you with land
and justice.”
– The oath was held at a ceremony called investiture.
The Feudal Contract:
 The oral oath was a ‘feudal contract’:
– If the vassal did not fulfill his contract (military
service), he lost the land.
– If the lord did not fulfill his contract (provide
justice), he lost the vassal.
Western Europe was divided into
large estates
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– Land was power: If you owned land, you were a nobleman.
– The nobility was the ruling class.
– The nobles were (in this order): Dukes, marquesses, counts
(earls), viscounts, barons.
– Not all knights owned land, and thus were not considered
part of the nobility.
Each lord ruled his estate as if it were a little kingdom
– He was the government (collected taxes, made law, sole
judge, had his won private army).
Manoralism was the economic System
– Each manor was a self-sufficient economic unit.