The Early Middle Ages (476-1000 CE )

1. The Early Middle Ages (476-1000CE)

2. Fall of the Roman Empire • Western Empire declines as Eastern flourishes • Internal decay • External threats • Overextended borders • Remaining influences • Roman tradition • Western Church • Germanic tribes

3. Western Europe in 500 CE • Visigoths in Southern Gaul/Northern Spain • Vandals in Southern Spain • Huns throughout Europe (sacked Rome 410) • Angles-Saxons in England • Franks in Northern Gaul • Ostrogoths in Italy • Also Lombards, Burgundians

4. Development of Christianity in the West • As Roman control over Europe declines, the Christian Church fills the void- Age of Faith • Church administration centralized with Roman archbishop given “Papal Primacy”

5. Monastic Christianity • Monasticism - priests turning away from popular culture to study faith • Sought seclusion instead of self-torture • Two types - • Hermit - complete seclusion • Communal – monks lived at a monastery - missionary oriented - “cities of God” ex. Benedictines

6. Early Political Development – Europe Starting to look like Europe • Franks • Carolingians • Charlemagne • Carolingian Renaissance

7. The Franks • Loose group of tribes inhabiting northeastern Europe in 3rd century • Clovis, unites group to become largest political power in wake of Empire • Converts for alliance with the Church

8. Carolingians • Charles Martel (the hammer) creates large cavalry force using aristocracy - awards control of local area back to nobles giving benefices or fiefs (gifts of land) – beginning of feudalism • Defeats the Muslims at the Battle of Tours in 732, effectively ended the Muslim advance into Europe

9. Battle of Tours

10. Carolingians and the Church • Carolingians enlist Church to help maintain control - offer conversion opportunities to conquered groups - ex: Anglo-Saxons • Reciprocal relationship: Carolingians protects Church from the East/Church legitimizes dynasty • Give lands surrounding Rome to the Church

11. Charlemagne (742-814 C.E.) • Solidifies relationship with the Church • Crowned head of (new) Holy Roman Empire Christmas Day, 800AD

12. Charlemagne • Increases Frankish realm - extends domain in name of Christianity • Forces Eastern Empire to recognize authority in west - though no takeover • Had strong indirect control over Church - restored Pope after capture • Governs in the Carolingian way - 250 Counts from aristocracy

13. Charlemagne • Expected loyalty - taxes collected - justice dispensed • Tight control over empire • Resorted to divine justice “trial by ordeal” • Builds large palace at Aix-la-Chapelle: center of learning

14. Breakup of Carolingian Dynasty • Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious inherits • Without talented leader, empire unmanageable • Louis the Pious sons’ demand empire divided • Kingdoms devolve but Holy Roman Empire remains

15. Feudalism • A political system based on granting land in exchange for loyalty and service.

16. Feudalism • King- highest noble who owned all the land • Lord - owner of feudal estate • Vassal - one who swears loyalty to lord • Peasant- worker • Serf- peasant tied to the land • Manor - farm/estate including local shops • fief – land given by a lord to a vassal • Demesne- land for the lord’s personal use • Fealty - loyalty sworn to lord

17. Vassalage • Hierarchy of vassalage • King - duke/baron - serf • Knights serve lord of the manor • Serfs might be required to fight also • Some lords vassals to more than one superior

18. WHY WAS FEUDALISM NECESSARY? • Did feudalism bring about stability in Medieval Europe or was it a political and social disaster?

19. Relationship Between Lords and Vassals • The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system • Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord • All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

20. What is a Knight? • Mounted warriors who served the lords • Almost all nobles were knights • Training began at age 7-8, as a page, under the guidance of the lady of the manor • Became squires at age 15 and were trained by other knights • Those deemed worthy were “dubbed” knights

21. Knighting Ceremony • Investiture ceremony- the lord and vassal agree to their obligations • Feudal contract- the unwritten rules of obligations between a noble and his vassal • Chivalry – code of conduct that dictates knights’ behavior towards others. Based on Christian values

22. Feudal Contract LORDS GIVE SERVICE TO GIVE PROTECTION TO VASSALS

23. Does Chivalry Have an Effect? • Did improve the lifestyle of the early feudal lords • However…Knights only required to act courteously toward those of his own class. • Those of a lower class were free game

24. Workers on the Manor • There were two groups of peasant workers on the manor • Freemen- skilled workers who paid rent and could leave the manor whenever they wished. (They usually had a skill needed by others on the manor.) • Serfs – workers bound to the land by contract with the nobles. (They had no freedom - they where the noble’s property.)

25. Characteristics of Feudalism • Serfs bound to the land - multigenerational • Levels of serfdom • free serfs - some rights, had some bargaining power (small landowners) • servile serfs - no rights, needed permission for marriage, travel, etc. • Troubadour- wandering poets who glorified women in songs and poems

26. Why did Feudalism work? • Lords needed stable workforce for land • Serfs needed a job and protection • Periodic waves of invaders threatened safety of the landless - Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims • Crusades were partly an excuse to give the knights something to do • Lords traded use of land for share of crop • Small landowners trade also with lords • Necessary antecedent for Nation-States

27. Manorialism • Economic system around a lord’s manor • Manor included a village and the land surrounding it • Each group in society had their own job and responsibility to fulfill • Self-sufficient community

28. Changes in Agriculture • Climate improves in Europe - 700-1200 CE temperature rises 1 degree centigrade • Moldboard plow allows deeper penetration • 3 field crop rotation system used (always have 2 fields planted and 1 field unplanted) • Padded collars for horses • Harness of water power for mills • Wheelbarrow developed

30. Castle • Main purpose was defense • Attacking armies use wide range of strategies and weapons: • Siege tower: plat formed tower that soldiers would use to climb over walls • Battering Ram: metal tipped heavy timber used to crack castle walls and doors • Trebuchet: worked like a slingshot to propel objects over the wall • Launched: pots of burning lime, boulders, dead enemies, diseased animals

32. The Church • The Structure of the Church: • Pope (supreme authority) • Clergy (religious officials) • Bishops- settle Church disputes • Priests- lived and served in the villages • Religion as a unifying force • Clergy administers the sacraments—rites to achieve salvation • Village church is a place of worship and celebration

33. Church Law • All medieval Christians expected to obey canon law—Church law • Canon law governs marriages and religious practices • Popes have power over political leaders through threat of: • Excommunication—banishment from Church, denial of salvation • Interdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services • Kings and emperors were expected to obey pope’s commands. Clash Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII: • Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture—kings appointing Church officials • Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VII excommunicates Henry

34. Cathedrals Gothic style evolves around 1100; term from Germanic tribe, Goths Gothic style has large, tall windows for more light; pointed arches Churches have stained glass windows, many sculptures About 500 Gothic churches are built from 1170 to 1270

35. Gothic Architecture ribbed vaults that supported the roof’s weight flying buttresses that transferred weight to thick, exterior walls pointed arches that framed huge stained glass windows tall spires that seemed to be pointing to heaven

36. The Crusades: The Beginning • In 1093, Byzantine emperor asks for help fighting the Turks • Pope Urban II issues a call for a Crusade—a “holy war”

37. Goals of the Crusades Pope wants to reclaim Jerusalem and reunite Christianity Kings use Crusades to send away knights who cause trouble Younger sons hope to earn land or win glory by fighting Later, merchants join Crusades to try to gain wealth through trade

38. The Third Crusade : 1189-1192 • One is Richard the Lion-Hearted—king of England • The Robin Hood stories and legends often surround Richard I returning from the Third Crusade.

40. A Spanish Crusade • Most of Spain controlled by Moors, a Muslim people • Christians fight Reconquista—drive Muslims from Spain, 1100-1492 • Spain has Inquisition—court to suppress heresy; expels non-Christians

41. The Effects of the Crusades • Show power of Church • Women who stay home manage the estate and business affairs • Merchants expand trade, bring back many goods from Southwest Asia • Failure of later crusades to recapture and unite Christendom … • weakens pope and nobles, strengthens kings • Crusades create lasting bitterness between Muslims and Christians

42. Women’s Role in Feudal Society • Status of Women • According to the Church and feudal society, women were inferior to men • Noblewomen • Can inherit land, defend castle, send knights to war on lord’s request • Usually confined to activities of the home or convent • Peasants Women • Most labor in home and field, bear children, provide for family • Poor, powerless, do household tasks at young age

43. Convents provided women in the middle ages an alternative to married life. Childbirth was often deadly for women, so becoming a nun was a respectable and perhaps attractive alternative.

44. Western Europe during the Middle Ages: Emerging Monarchs France, England, Germany and Spain

45. France: Clovis I, (481-511) • Clovis I • Charles Martel • Charlemagne • Philip II “Augustus” (1190-1223) - Expanded the kingdom of France by taking Normandy, Anjou, & Touraine from the British. • Louis IX “St. Louis” (1226-1270) - He convinced his subjects that the monarchy was essential to their happiness & well-being

46. Philip IV “the Fair” (1300s) • Established the Estates General (an advisory council which) • Defied & arrested the Pope in 1303. • A French papacy was established at Avignon which remained under French control from 1305-1377. • Great Schism- • There was a Pope in Avignon and a Pope in Rome. • Each Pope excommunicated (kicked them out of the Church) each other • The Holy Roman Emperor and the Council of Constance forced the two Popes to resign and choose a new Pope in 1417

47. England • William I “the Conqueror” (Duke of Normandy) • Defeated the Celts, Angles, Saxons & Jutes in England at the Battle of Hastings (1066) • He thus united England & laid the foundations for a sovereign nation-state.

48. “Domesday Book” • William I compiled the “Domesday Book” in 1086 which surveyed the people of England. • He thereby contributed still further to the unification of England.

49. Henry II of England (1154-1189) • Married Eleanor of Acquitaine & thereby extended the territory of England to include land in “France”. • He also established a Court system which enforced a common set of laws. • His style & energy were models for future monarchs.

50. Henry II Eleanor of Aquitaine