Germanic and Medieval Europe

1. Germanic and Medieval Europe Chris Anderson Randolph-Henry High School

2. By AD 500—the Roman Empire had been destroyed by Germanic invasions Many things happened after the Germanic peoples took power Trade decreased Cities, bridges, and roads fell into disrepair Law & order vanished Education almost disappeared Money was no longer used Life did not extend beyond the village Germanic Rule

3. Germanic Rule • Western Europe had become a very backward place • The period when the Germanic tribes first took over the west is called: • The Dark Ages • Middle Ages • Medieval Period • The era contained elements of Germanic, Roman, and Christian cultures

4. Merovingian Rulers • AD 400s—the Franks emerged as the most powerful Germanic group • The Franks settled in Gaul—modern day France and Western Germany • The early Frankish rulers were called Merovingian Kings • The Merovingian Kings held power until the 700s

5. Merovingian Rulers • A.) Clovis • 481—Clovis became leader of the Franks • 496—Clovis converted to Christianity to please his wife • The conversion identified him with Rome and his people • He was very strong because of his military • Upon his death, his kingdom was divided among his sons

6. Clovis

7. Merovingian Rulers • B.) Charles Martel • 714—Charles Martel became Mayor of the Palace—the leading government official under the king • 732—Martel defended France from Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours

8. Charles Martel

9. Merovingian Rulers • C.) Pepin the Short • Pepin was Charles Martel’s son • 741—Pepin became Mayor of the Palace • Pepin wanted to be king, but he had no royal blood • He used his influence with the Frankish bishops and the Pope to bring about dynastic change

10. The Pope made Pepin king of the Franks—King Pepin I Pepin agreed to defend the Catholic Church against its enemies 754—Pepin helped to drive the Lombards out of Rome Pepin received a lot of Lombard land near Rome Pepin gave the land to the Pope The land became the Papal States Merovingian Rulers

11. Merovingian Rulers • D.) Charlemagne • 768—Charlemagne became king of the Franks • Charlemagne was Pepin’s son • Charlemagne has also been called • Charles the Great • Carolus Magnus • His dynasty has been called the Carolingian Dynasty

12. Charlemagne

13. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • He increased the size of the empire • The kingdom came to include: • Germany • France • Northern Spain • Most of Italy

14. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • He knew he needed to restore literacy to his kingdom • He made his royal court into a center of learning • By 800, Charlemagne’s empire included all of civilized Western Europe

16. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • 800—Charlemagne traveled to Rome to defend the Pope against upset Roman nobles • Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day • Charlemagne wanted the title but was unsure of the Pope’s crowning of him—would seem like the Pope had power over him • His crowning helped to better the relationship between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor

17. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • Charlemagne used counts to help rule his vast empire • The counts solved the local problems and helped to get soldiers for Charlemagne’s army

18. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • Charlemagne personally held his empire together • 814—Charlemagne dies leaving his son in power—Louisthe Pius • Louis was very weak • After Louis’ death, he left the kingdom to his 3 sons

19. Merovingian Rulers • Charlemagne • Louis’ 3 sons constantly fought over control in the kingdom • 843—the 3 brothers agreed to divide the empire in the Treaty of Verdun • Charles the Bald—Western Part (France) • Louis the German—Eastern Part (Germany) • Lothair—Holy Roman Empire (N. Italy and S. Germany)

20. By the end of the 800s, Charlemagne’s empire lay in ruins • The nobles had gained lots of power • Feuds occurred between the nobles and kings • Muslims took over Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica • Slavs took central Europe • Magyars invaded • Vikings invaded

21. Vikings • Traveled in long, deck less ships—usually with only 1 sail • Known for surprise attacks and quick retreats • Motto: if they could not steal it, they would burn it • All of Europe was afraid of the Vikings • They were after money and adventure • They showed little or no mercy on their victims • They explored and settled new lands

22. Early Medieval Europe • Feudalism dominated early Medieval Europe • Feudalism was a highly decentralized form of government stressing mutual alliances between monarchs and nobles in which land is given away in exchange for loyalty and military service • Feudalism started in France and moved to other parts of Europe in the 1000s

23. In Feudalism, land was given to warriors as payment • Everything on the land was also given to the warriors • The peasants that lived on the land • Any animals--domesticated and wild • Any buildings on the land

24. Feudalism was developed by Charles Martel while he was fighting the Muslims • Martel noticed the Muslims had an improved saddle—the Muslim saddle had stirrups, European saddles did not • Martel wanted to add the new saddle to his military and create a true cavalry • He had no money to pay the new soldiers, so he gave them land instead • The soldiers then could use the products from the land to get a weapon, a horse, and a saddle with stirrups • Trade farm products—food—for the materials they needed • They could trade animals or hunting privileges for the things they needed

26. Early Medieval Europe • Feudalism involved 2 people • The Lord gave the land away • The Vassal received the land • The land that is given away is called a fief • The vassal had to provide certain services to the lord in exchange for the land

27. Early Medieval Europe • 1.) Provide a certain number of knights • Most important duty • The vassal would give away his land as payment to knights • Thus the vassal could become a lord • 2.) Serve on the lord’s court • 3.) Provide food and housing if the lord ever visited

28. Early Medieval Europe • 4.) Give $ to the lord if his son became a knight or his eldest daughter became married • 5.) Pay the lord’s ransom if he were ever captured

29. Early Medieval Europe • Most of the obligations were never carried out • Most vassals would raised knights not to give to the lord, but to fight the lord to get more land • Feudalism lack of centralization led to lots of war between the lords and vassals • The Catholic Church—unsuccessfully—tried to limit the number of wars with many laws

30. The Catholic Church tried to limit the number of wars by passing laws • 1.) Peace of God: made it illegal for anyone to fight in Churches • 2.) Truce of God: outlawed battles on holidays and weekends • 3.) Other Laws: other laws only allowed fighting to occur on 80 days of the year • The Church could not enforce these laws; thus, the battles and warfare continued

31. At the top of the Feudal system was the King • At the bottom was the Knight • Peasant were not part of the Feudal system because they owned nothing

32. Early Medieval Europe • Castles • Lords were only powerful if they could protect themselves • They built castle for defense • Castles were a complex of different buildings

33. Inside the walls was a main building that was used for storage and housing troops, the lord, and his family • Castles had their own wells • Castles had their own Churches, stables, and storage buildings • Some had water filled moats to protect the castles from attack

36. Early Medieval Europe • The Nobility • The nobility included: • Kings • Lords • Knights • ladies • Nobles had easy lives when compared to the peasants • Their castles were cold, dark, damp, and dreary places

37. Early Medieval Europe • The Nobility • Nobles had lots of power in their lands • Collect taxes and rent • Administer justice • Female nobles had very few rights • Forced into fixed marriages • Could marry at age 12 • Main duty—to have and raise kids

38. Early Medieval Europe • The Nobility • Noblemen participated in tournaments to keep their skills sharp • Noblemen also enjoyed hunting, falconry, and archery

40. Early Medieval Europe • The Knight • Knights came from the noble classes • 1.) @ age 7, training began • The boy was a page and learned skills • 2.) @ 15 the boy became a squire • Assists a knight in battle • 3.) @ 21 the boy became a knight

41. Early Medieval Europe • The Knight • Knights followed a code called chivalry • Had to be brave • Fight fairly • Keep promises • Defend the Church • Treat noblewomen with respect

42. Early Medieval Europe • The Manorial System • The nobles were wealthy because of the work the peasants were doing • The peasants lived on and worked the nobles’ lands • Manorial System—an agricultural system that provided both the lord and peasant with food, shelter, and protection

43. Early Medieval Europe • The Manorial System • Manors were the lands and buildings that were farmed and used by both the lord and the peasants • Lord’s house • Pastures and fields • Forests • Peasant village

44. Early Medieval Europe • The Manorial System • The manor’s peasants agreed to provide services to the lord in return for the lord’s protection • The peasants farmed the land to produce food for themselves and the lord • The peasants served as the tool producers—blacksmiths, carpenters, millers, etc.

45. Early Medieval Europe • The Manorial System • The manors had to be self-sufficient—making everything the manor needed • Most peasants never left the manor • Some peasants were serfs—similar to slaves, but they could not be bought or sold

46. Early Medieval Europe • Agricultural Advances • 2 new agricultural improvements occurred in the Middle Ages that led to more food production • 1.) New Plow • Heavier • Made deeper cuts in the soil • 2.) Three Field System • Crop rotation

47. Early Medieval Europe • Peasant Life • Peasants lived very hard lives • Life expectancy—40 • Disease and hunger were rampant • Housing was small—1 room with a dirt floor • Rarely at meat • Enjoyed holidays—lots of entertainment and food

48. Medieval Church • During the Medieval period, the Catholic Church proved to be very powerful • The Catholic Church became the center of life for nearly all Western Europeans • The primary job of the Church was spiritual • The Church became involved in politics and social issues

49. Medieval Church • The Pope became the most powerful figure in Europe • Nearly all of Europe fell under the Pope’s control • All the people were Catholic, giving the Pope control over peasants, nobles, and kings • The Church taught that all people were sinners

50. The only way to reach salvation was by gaining the Grace of God To gain God’s grace, one had to participate in the sacraments Sacraments Baptism Penance Eucharist Confirmation Matrimony Anointing of the sick Holy Orders Medieval Church