The Early Middle Ages

1. The Early Middle Ages

2. Germanic Kingdoms • Note: NOT Germans • Different kind of civilization: • No written laws. • No cities. • Governed by custom. • Elected kings. • Nobility swore allegiance to kings. • Kings protected all in times of war. • War occurred often.

3. Battle of Tours, 732 AD • Franks vs. the Muslims • Charles Martel • Christian victory – God on their side • Muslims keep most of Spain

4. Charlemagne • Charles the Great (742?-814) • King of Franks (768-814) • Holy Roman Emperor (800-814) • Shared Frankish kingdom with brother until he died • Conquered and Christianized neighboring kingdoms • Northern Italy, part of Spain, all of France, Germany, Low Countries • Restored Pope Leo III and was named “Holy Roman Emperor” on Christma in 800 • Capital at Aachen • Advances in scholarship, literature, law • Called “Carolingian Dynasty”

5. Christian Emperor • After the fall of the Roman Empire, power was split in two • In the east, a Byzantine emperor ruled in Constantinople • In the west, Rome was frequently invaded by “barbarians”

6. Christian Emperor • In 800, Charlemagne is named Holy Roman Emperor (HRE) • Emperor in Constantinople considers this as wrong • Charlemagne tries to marry his daughter • Revival of “Roman” Empire in west • Established a feudal system • Issued legal decrees like Romans • Great diplomat with foreign rulers • Except with Muslims in Spain • Protected Christian shrines in Palestine (Jerusalem) • Stabilized the currency (denier) • Trade & commerce vigorous • Used & protected Jewish merchants • Refused to trade iron broadswords with Vikings

7. Christian Emperor • Palace school • Literacy necessary to be a good Christian • Texts were all corrupt • Learning will lead to better grasp of the truth - Bible • Sacramentary was required • Unified book of prayers & rites for sacraments of church

9. Tried to make a united Christian Empire • Constantinople upset – thought they were the “true Roman emperor” • Spread Christianity • Nobles to rule locally • “second Rome” at Aachen • Curriculum: Formal course of study • Grammar, Rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy

10. Europe after Charlemagne • Died in 814 • Empire fell apart • Many invasions – Muslims, Magyars, Vikings, others…. • Treaty of Verdun • Charlemagne’s grandson’s divide empire into 3

11. Invaders

12. Legacy of Charlemagne • Extended Christianity to northern Europe. • Blended German, Roman, and Christian traditions. • Good strong system of government. • Set a good example for other European rulers. • Strong connection to the Roman Catholic Church.

13. Social Aspects of the Medieval World

14. 1347 Bubonic Plague 1066 C.E. Norman invasion of Britain 450 C.E. Anglo-Saxons invade England 1455 C.E. Printing Press 1306-1321 Dante’s Divine Comedy 1386 C.E. Chaucer begins writing Canterbury Tales 306 C.E. Constantine comes to power in Eastern Roman Empire; beginning of Byzantine Empire Beowulf Composed sometime between 476 C.E. Fall of Rome 1453 Fall of Byzantine Empire with invasion of Ottoman Turks 850 C.E. 900 C.E. Middle Ages: General Timeline 1095-1291C.E. Crusades

16. Feudalism: A Hierarchy

17. Feudalism • Obligations • Governmental system • Hierarchy • Lord • Vassel earned a fief • Peasants

18. Why would people agree to this? • PROTECTION FROM INVADERS!

19. Knights • Mounted warrior • Age 7 • Training • Dubbing Ceremony • Tournaments

20. Code of Chivalry • Brave • Valiant • Loyal • True to word • Had to fight fairly • Women were to be revered

21. Time for a little simulation • You will be given “money” and a role. • DO NOT EAT YOUR MONEY!!!

22. Women in Medieval Society • Played active roles in society. • Women took over when men left. • Eleanor of Aquitaine was Queen of France and England. • Still, women were daughters of Eve • Weak and easily led to sin • Needed help & guidance of men

23. The Manor • The Lord’s estate • Village + surrounding lands • Peasants (serfs) – responsible to the lord, paid the lord for various services. • In exchange, the lords gave the peasants their own land to farm and protection.

24. Why stand for being a serf? • Protection • Land • Guaranteed food, shelter, land, housing, some safety.

26. The manor included… • Cobbler • Tools • Church • Peasant homes (mud huts) • Mill • Church • Manor House • Blacksmith

28. Medieval Peasants • Harsh life • No education • Tireless work • Little food • One-room huts • Disease common • Short life-span (35!) • Never-ending work

29. Foods of Middle Ages • Castle cooks prepared large amounts of food for people • Meat had to be salted or smoked or just kept alive before it was needed • Sometimes meat was pounded to a paste and served as custard.

30. Table settings • Food served out of trenchers • Plate made out of bread • People often had to bring their own utensils (mostly ate with hands) • Shared cups and sometimes trenchers

31. Clothing • Peasants probably had one change of clothing – maybe two • A lot of wool clothing • Outer clothing not washed but under clothing washed often • Many peasants died from exposure in winter

32. Childhood • Many women and children died in childbirth • Everyone was needed in fields so babies often left alone or with older children while parents worked. • Began working and doing chores around age 7 • Boys educated as apprentices

33. Marriage • Men usually older than women • Girls sometimes married at age 12 • Usually arranged marriages • Men had total control over women • “Rule of thumb?” • Men could divorce women for many reasons

34. Medicine • People believed diseases were spread by bad odors • Diseases were caused by sins of the soul • Medical remedies often caused more harm • Blood letting

35. Games • Chess • Dice • Bowling • Checkers • Backgammon