Europe in the Middle Ages (ch 14)
Middle Ages (Medieval Period) 500-1500 Time between the fall of Roman Empire and the Renaissance
· Begin with the collapse of the Roman Empire
· By about 500 Roman Empire in Western Europe had completely collapsed replaced by patchwork of small kingdoms
Franks one of the invading groups western Europe
· Claimed Gaul now called France
· Charlemagne king of Franks
o Conquered the many small kingdoms
o Established an empire
o Ruled for nearly 50 years
o Controlled largest Empire in Europe since Roman Empire
o Wanted to spread Christianity, established schools, improved economy
o Pope Leo III crowned him Holy Roman Emperor Empire known as Holy Roman Empire
o After his death empire divided among 3 sons fought one another weakening empire invasions begin
Vikings came from present day Denmark, Sweden, and Norway
· Attacks begin around 800 and last for about 300 years
· Skilled sailors and tough warriors
· Attacks were constant threat on Europe
Feudal System system of govt and way of life that restored order in Europe
· Fief grant of land
· Nobles kings and lords
· Clergy priests and bishops
· Peasants farmers, builders, craftspeople
· Vassals person who receives a fief in return owes the lord (follows laws and military service)
· Manor land vassal receives (large estate that included farm fields, pastures and often entire village; also included manor house where lord or ruler of manor lived)
· Serfs peasants who worked on a manor
· Squires young nobles in training
· Knight soldier for a lord
1. Landowners (nobles) gave fiefs to vassals
2. Lords promised to treat vassals with honor and protect vassals and their lands Vassals in return vowed to fight for their lord
3. Many of the peasants who worked the manor were also serfs they were not slaves but could not leave the manor unless the lord permitted it
4. Peasants worked almost every day, lived in one-room huts, slept on uncomfortable hay beds, and ate simple foods
The Age of Faith Middle Ages often called the Age of Faith b/c the church in Rome was more powerful than any government.
· Schism split in the Christian Church in 1054 Pope banished Byzantine emperor from the church (dispute over icons)
o Western Europe Roman Catholic Church
o Eastern Europe Eastern Orthodox Church
· Promises of reward and threat of punishment made most people follow the teachings of the Church
· Church gained wealth by collecting taxes
· Church was single largest owner of land in Europe during the Middle Ages
· People who did not obey the church could be excommunicated
· Organization of Church
o Pope Arch-bishop, bishop, priests
· Monasteries and Convents were formed
Trade Revives and Towns Grow
· People felt safer feudalism well established & Church was stabilizing force
· People began to travel more
· Many manors were becoming overcrowded lords would allow peasants to buy their freedom and move to the new growing towns
Life in Towns and Cities
· Economies based on exchange of money for goods and services unlike manors who were self-sufficient
· Middle class formed merchants, traders, etc (between nobles and peasants)
· Guilds formed set prices and prevented outsiders from selling goods in town (apprentice journeyman (salaried worker) guild)
Black Death
· Aka the plague
· Wiped out 1/3 of European population
· Spread by fleas living on the rats that thrived in unsanitary towns
· Rats could have been controlled by cats but many were slaughtered because many people believed they were agents of the devil
The Crusades series of religious wars (1095-1291)
· Purpose was to defeat the Muslim Turks for control of the Holy Land
(region sacred to Christians b/c Jesus had lived and taught there)
· Jerusalem (sacred to Christians, Muslims, Jews) for centuries had been controlled by Arab Muslims who generally welcomed Christian pilgrims
· 1000s Turks took control of Holy Land and conquering much of Byzantine Empire
· Byzantine emperor in Constantinople calls upon Pope Urban II to help defend his Christian Empire Pope agrees b/c he wants Christians to have control of Holy Land and unite Europeans against Turks
· Christians did not succeed in capturing Holy Land but still brought lasting changes to Europe
o Introduced new goods (jewelry, spices etc)
o Helped revive trade across Europe
o Brought new ideas (medicine, math, technology)
o Learned how to make better maps and ships
Nation Building
· Kings began to put their own wishes above those of the Church
· Feudalism declines kings deal with troublesome nobles Crusades weakened nobles
· Large kingdoms turn into nations community of people that shares territory and a government
England
· Kings were beginning to increase their power
· King John (1199) increased taxes and ongoing feuds with pope nobles and clergy forced him to sign Magna Carta
o Great Charter strongly limited power of the king
§ major points of Magna Carta
· king is absolute ruler but has to obey laws
· king cannot limit the freedom of the Church
· king cannot tax with meeting w/ Great Council (later becomes Model Parliament) helps unify England
· king cannot put any free person in jail without a trial
Hundred Years War
· long series of clashes between England and France 1337-1453
· Many English kings also were feudal lords over large sections of French territory
· French rulers wanted to rule over their own land become angry when King Edward III of England claimed to be king of France
· France invades English held territories
· Lasts for over 100 years
· Results
o New weapons cannons and longbow
o Leads to national feeling (England or France)
o Helped set modern boundaries of England and France
o English give up dream of empire in Europe look to distant lands for conquests and trade
o Europe leaves feudalism behind and becomes continent of nations
Joan of Arc
· Peasant girl took charge of French forces at battle of Orleans defeated the English
· Led victory in other battles
· Captured by English tried for witchcraft burned at stake
· Death inspires French to many victories
· English is driven out of France