Kevin Putnam
Per. 3, Haskell
1. Early Middle Ages
A. A land of great potential
i.
Small area that lies in western
ii. Great land of dense forests, and rich soil.
iii. Surrounded by seas for fishing and trading
B. Germanic Kingdoms
i.
Germanic farmers and herders migrated across
ii.
400 and 700
iii.
481
C. Islam: A new Mediterranean Power
i.
Islam moved out of the
ii. Christians feared the Muslims and their victories
iii. Christians saw that god was on their side because of the victory.
D. The age of Charlemagne
i.
800, Charles Martel built empire in
ii.
Pope Leo III called on the king of Frank for help
against rebels in
iii. Charlemagne tried to take control with a united Christian empire.
E. Revival of Learning
i. Charlemagne practiced reading and writing
ii. He set up schools
iii. Alcuin hired scholars to rewrite old manuscripts such as the bible and latin works of history and science for text books
F. Charlemagne’s Legacy
i. Charlemagne died in 814
ii. 843 his grandsons split up his empire
iii. Charlemagne’s empire crumbled
G. New Attacks
i.
732 Muslim forces kept up pressure in
ii. Vikings were most destructive raiders
iii. Vikings traders/explorers.
2. Feudalism and the Manor Economy
A. A new system of Rule
i. Feudalism evolved from the basic need of protection
ii. Vassals pledged service and loyalty to the greater lord.
iii. Fiefs, or estates, were granted to vassals
B. Lords, Vassals, and Knights.
i. Nobles trained to become Knights
ii. Castles were big housings where kings lived
iii. Nobleman were warriors themselves
C. The Manor
i. The manor is the heart of the medieval economy
ii. Peasants in a manor were called serfs
iii. Small, self-sufficient world.
D. Daily Life
i. Peasant life was harsh.
ii. Peasant diet of bread and vegetables
iii. Believed in fairies and other natural spirits
3. The Medieval Church
A. A spiritual and worldly empire.
i.
Christian church split after fall of
ii. Pope was spiritual leader.
iii. Believed that sinners were doomed
B. The church and daily life
i. Christians had no contact with the pope
ii. Religion linked to daily life for peasants
iii. Christians paid tithe or a tax to the church
C. Monks and Nuns
i. A monk, Benedict, found monastery of Monte Cassino.
ii. Monks and nuns took an oath of poverty
iii. Risked lives to spread religion
D. Hildegard of Bingen:
Adviser to popes and kings
i.
In 1147, Hildegard founded a new convent in
ii. Emperors, popes and kings/queens went to Hildegard for advice.
iii. Hildegard spoke her mind and encouraged/scolded churchmen and rulers.
E. Reform Movements
i. Married priests devoted more time to their families than to the church duties
ii. 1073, pope Gregory VII became the new pope
iii. St. Dominic founded a preaching order of friars to work in the larger world.
F. Jews in
i. Many Jewish communities in Medieval Europe
ii.
Arab Muslims gained control of
iii. Church started anti-Semitism laws.
4. Economic Expansion and Change
A. An agricultural Revolution
i. By 800 peasant farmers started using plows
ii. Windmills were also beginning to be seen
iii. Peasants adopted the three-field system
B. Trade Revives
i. Merchant companies traveled together for safety
ii. Trade fairs were fairs where traders could get together and trade
iii. Small centers of trad led to the first real medieval citites
C. A commercial Revolution
i. Money for investment, or capitol was needed by the traders
ii. Merchants developed system of insurance
iii. Clergy formed the middle class
D. Role of Guilds
i. Guilds, or associations, were formed in Medieval life.
ii. Apprentices, or trainees, to the guilds helped them out
iii. Women worked in crafts and sometimes trading
E. City life
i. Medieval cities/towns were surrounded by huge protective walls.
ii. Medieval cities were tall houses cut by narrow streets.
iii. Residents dumped waste into the streets
F. Looking Ahead
i. Trade put money into circulation and ideas
ii. Ideas products and technologies came from all the trading.
iii.
By 1300