The “Middle” Medieval Period, 1000-1200

1. The “Middle” Medieval Period, 1000-1200 World History - Libertyville HS

2. Middle Ages Characteristics • Agricultural • More land was under cultivation because land was political POWER • Side effect was a dramatic increase in population & increase in revenue for the owner of land • Tech developments • Spread of iron tools • Better harnessing of animals • Use of wind, water driven mills for food processing

3. Middle Ages Characteristics • Social • From 1000 to about 1300, a population boom occurred • Population doubled • In 1000 = 36 million • In 1300 = 79 million • In 1500 = 81 million • By comparison, Islamic population was steady or slightly declining

4. Middle Ages Characteristics • Social, continued • Primogeniture led to aggressive adventures of colonization and conquest • Younger sons sought their fortune wherever they could • Influenced crusades, giving younger sons somewhere to try to carve out a land of their own • Peasants were enserfed, becoming tied to the land until after the Bubonic Plague (about 1400s)

5. Middle Ages Characteristics • Economic • Increase in agriculture drove expansion of trade • Markets rewarded farmers for their increased production • Towns and cities benefited from increased trade b/c people moved from farms to cities • Emerging world markets • Following crusades, Islamic trade goods in demand • Goods = spices, luxury goods

6. Middle Ages Characteristics • Rise of Guilds, around 1100 • Guild was an association of craftsmen of a particular trade • Examples = blacksmiths; tailors, merchants • Controlled access into their craft, who maintained the quality of work and price structure • Strict hierarchy of guild maintained

7. Middle Ages Characteristics • Political • Slow process of political consolidation • Political reality was that power would go to whomever could control his vassals and attract adventurers to his cause

8. Middle Ages Characteristics • Church corruption increasing • Priests were marrying • Simony: church selling positions in church to rich people • Reaction and reforms • Rise of monastic orders • Strict vow of poverty, chastity • Set example for others • Papal reforms were mainly strictly enforcing rules against marriage, simony

9. What was going on in France? • Northern France settled by Vikings in 900s • “Normans” began conquering other parts of Europe, like Sicily, Southern Italy (& England) • Dukes of France = Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Burgundy, Provence) very powerful – often stronger than the king • Capetian Dynasty controlled French throne for 800 years, but spent most of their time fighting with and marrying into the Ducal families

10. What was going on in England? • Angles & Saxons (Germanic tribes) invaded Roman Britain • Became Christian by 700 • Viking attacks terrorized England after 793 • Invasion by Normans in 1066 • Normandy was a part of Northern France settled by Vikings • William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy • Invaded, defeated last Anglo-Saxon King of England at the Battle of Hastings • French speaking Normans became rulers of England

11. What was going on in …? • The Holy Roman Empire? • Otto’s heirs lost right of investiture to church • By 1300, HRE decentralized • Became a loosely controlled area equal in size to modern day Germany, Austria, part of Switzerland • Eastern Europe? • Poland: pagan, became Christian by 966 AD • Hungary: Magyars; became Christian in 1000 AD • Italy? • Papal States: Pope ruled as monarch • Popes became corrupted by secular power HRE in 1050 HRE in 1300

12. What was going on in… • Spain? • Following Islamic conquest in 700s, Catholics, Muslims and Jewish people lived in uneasy peace • Muslim centers of learning included Cordoba, Seville • Reconquista • Gradual re-conquest, over 700 years, of Spain by Catholic forces • Catholics slaughtered Jewish and Muslims alike, “purifying” Spain