Download Chapter 4, Section 2

Chapter 4, Section 2
Medieval Europe
Christianity
• With the decline of the
Roman Empire, a new age
began called the Middle
Ages.
• Medieval comes from a
Latin word, meaning Middle
Ages.
• The middle ages were a
1,000 year period that took
place between Classical and
modern times.
Christianity
• During the Middle Ages,
Christianity became a
political power in Europe.
• The leaders of the churches
were known as bishops (we
call them popes today).
• The influence of the Church
was so strong that the
popes became important
political figures.
Christianity
• By A.D. 500 the first Christian Bible
was completed.
• The popes sent missionaries out
to spread their religious views.
• The were known as monks and
nuns.
• They helped the needy and were
teachers.
• The Church greatly advanced
education in Europe.
• By the 1100’s the Church also
founded the first universities in
Italy and England.
The Holy Roman Empire
• The Germans combined
their common laws with
those of others and founded
kingdoms all over Europe.
• The early kings were elected
by nobles and knights.
• Through time, kings became
more powerful and began
passing the crown down to
the next generation, usually
the king’s first born son.
The Holy Roman Empire
Charlemagne
• One of the most important
German kingdoms was that of
the Franks.
• They controlled what would
become Germany and France.
• 771 – Charlemagne was elected
king of the Franks
• Through his leadership, he
added parts of Spain & Italy, and
Rome.
The Holy Roman Empire
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Charlemagne Cont’d
On Christmas Day of 800, Charlemagne was crowned the
head of the Roman Empire in the West, which became
known as the Holy Roman Empire.
Charlemagne died in 814, and the empire was broken up
between his sons and grandsons.
These kingdoms were the foundations for modern,
Germany, Italy, France and Spain.
During the same time, several Germanic groups helped
found the first English kingdom which later became
known as England.
Medieval Society
• During the Middle Ages,
feudalism emerged.
• This is a political and social
system.
• Under this system, kings gave
land to their loyal lords (nobles).
• In exchange for the land, the
lords provided the kings with
military service (knights)
• These nobles who swore loyalty
to the king were called vassals.
Medieval Society
• The feudal estate was called the
manor.
• At the heart of the estate was a
castle.
• There were two types of common
people who made up a large
percentage of the estate’s
population:
– Tenants: paid rent for their land and
used it how they pleased
– Serfs: poorer than tenants and were
not as free; worked as ordered by
the lords; often had very hard jobs;
in times of war, became foot soldiers
Medieval Society
• These were violent times,
and people rarely strayed
too far from the manor.
• The manors were often
visited by people with
special skills or talents.
• Fixing metal objects
would be a skill, and
jokers or troubadours
would visit to provide
entertainment.
The Growth of Cities
• Towns/cities grew rapidly during this
time.
• Armies needed supplies so their
importance grew.
• Guilds – workers organizations, who
controlled industries such as cloth,
boat building and etc.
• Apprentices spent many years
learning a trade so they could join a
guild
• The apprentices became journeymen
and then master craftsmen
The Growth of Cities
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Larger cities/towns grew to become political
and religious centers as well.
The kings recognized the town’s importance.
Kings would grant the town’s residents
privileges and freedoms in written charters.
By doing this, the king won the resident’s
support.
The king raised money by taxing the
residents.
He would use this money to pay his military
instead of giving them land.
Serfs could also use this money to buy their
freedom.
The system of feudalism began to decline.