Medieval Europe aka Middle Ages 500 -1250 AD

Medieval Europe aka Middle Ages 500 -1250 AD

Geography of Europe • Smallest continent on it’s own- BUT combined with Asia- known as Eurasiacreates world’s largest landmass • Shaped like a big peninsula, has many peninsulas and islands • Surrounded by Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea

Ø Scandinavia has fjords – narrow inlets Ø CLIMATE- temperate- but there are extreme temps along Asia border and Alps Ø Many mines have helped sustain Europe’s economy over time: coal, iron, oil, bauxite, copper, lead , zinc, gold and silver

n 2000 years ago Europe was heavily forested n Deforested the area and set up farms n N. European Plain- most fertile area n Fishing very important (close to so many seas) n Rivers very useful to get around Europe

THE Middle Ages § Also Known As Medieval ( Latin for Middle) because in the middle of ancient and modern times- or Dark Ages- b/c light of civ had gone out § End of Western Roman Empire ( 500 AD) § Trade declined BUT ownership of land=wealth and power

Christianity spreads § The Pope helped to spread it by sending missionaries to teach about Christianity § Britain was one of the first places “converted” § Not all were missionaries from the pope 400’s AD (Saint) Patrick went on his ownpeople claim he drove all the snakes out of Ireland- named a saint b/c of this

Religious communities monasteries- (men) monks Convents- (women) nuns devote their “LIVES” to God! Benedict – 500’s wrote first “code” (rules) for monks- Benedictine Rule Abbot – head monk: Monks> pray for most of the day Farm Study (copied books by hand) Make wine , crafts , Medicines

480’s Clovis converted Gaul to Christianity n 700’s Charlemagne ruled Gaul n Had conquered France, Italy, Germany n Was Christian and as he conquered spread Christianity n n 800’s Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor of Rome( whoop de do!) after he conquered it

Ø New capital NOT Rome- Aachen (Germany) Ø P. S. Literacy was not encouraged during MA in Europe- BUT Charles knew differently and had his “court” filled with books, scholars, poets, and musicians

Vikings Charlemagne’s rule ended in early 800’s Norsemen (Vikings) invaded from the NORTH into Scandinavia – looking for land riches 900’s : Norsemen settled around Seine R. Became known as NORMANS – called area NORMANDY – adopted Christianity and French language. 1066 : Normans invaded England- leader was “William Conqueror” the 1199 : King John I ruler of England – made lords pay for wars, could imprison without a trial

FEUDALISM • A new form of governing and organization • Definition- a society based on land ownership AND service • Manor-large estate owned by wealthy nobles

Feudal System Video

Lord/Lady/Vassal l l Lord- owned the manor/could also be “king” of his land Bishop- religious person- also could be a lord Lady-lord’s wife was in charge of castle Vassal- took an oath to serve the lord – – – did not own land Lord gave each ‘V’ a fief ( separate manor- he did not own it but he managed it) Most important job was to serve as lord’s knight

Knights § Knight- warrior on horseback § Different Stages: § Page (7)-left home (son of a noble) § Lived with a knight § Learned ettiquite § Cared for horses § Squire (15 -20) § Rode into battle with a knight § Blessed by a preist § Given a sword and a belt § Knight- protected lord and manor § Must have 3 horses, armor, and a squire § Got extra $ by jousting!

Knights

Craftworkers n n n Craftworkers- free people l Made/built saddles, shoes, etc. l Family owned business l Father was expert/master Levels: l Age 14 - apprentice- live with a master l 17 -28 journeyman- could join a guild l Master- makes a “master piece” to show capability GUILD- groups of workers, set prices and rules about quality

What’s up SERFer Dude? n Serfs Given land to farm l Had to work lord’s land too l Pay rent/taxes l Ask permission on lord to get married l One room house with peeps and animals l Usually died young l Church bells signaled breaks in l

Serf’s

Women in the MA Women had fewer rights n But had important roles- supported their families n Governed manor households n n Eleanor of Aquitaine -c. 1200 AD- ran an area in S. France as a vassal, because queen of France, married Louis VII, divorced him became Queen of England by marrying King Henry II, had many kids- 2 sons became Kings of England

The power n By the middle/late Middle Ages power fell into the hands of the spiritual leader (Pope) and political leader (king). n Pope seen as God’s rep. on Earth- got power from God and people n If people disagreed with the Pope he would EXCOMMUNICATE them! n King usually had power/things/land from family

n In the mid 900’s AD- pope gave the emperor ( of Charlemagne’s empire) approval to rule- now called Holy Roman Empire ( pope lives in Rome) n Did not inherit crown-were elected by nobles- which led to fights and trickery!

The Pope steps in n Pope Leo IX believed all religious officials should answer to the Pope b/c everyone did answer to the first pope ( St. Peter) then all should answer to every Pope n 1054 AD Constantinople's bishop refused to do this so Leo excommunicated him thus began the Eastern Orthodox Church n 1073 Pope Gregory VII vs. Emperor Henry IV

Breaking up is hard to do! 1054: Christian church split – Constantine’s church: Eastern Orthodox ; Rome: Roman Catholic Rome

Crusades A LONGGGG series of wars between Christians and Muslims in SW Asia over control of Palestine u Holy Land to both u Turkish Muslims were attacking any Christians who visited Jesus’ town u Turks raided the Byz. Empire- so the Emp asked the Pope for help! u

Crusades Ø 1045 Pope Urban II called for a Christian Pilgrimage (1 st Crusade) to Jerusalem to capture it back from Muslim Turks Ø 1291 - last crusade Ø Crusade- Latin for marked with a cross

#1 1 st Crusade 1096 - 5000 Crusaders left Europe for the HL- the peasant crusaders (pc) attacked Jews in Germany- blamed them for Jesus’ death - most of the “pcs” were killed before they reached Jerusalem Ø Nobles reached J and took it over- set up 4 small towns and traded with Europe Ø BUT. . Within 50 years Muslims began taking land back thus the second Crusuade Ø

#2 and # 3 Ø 1147 - French and Germans set out to retake the Holy Land – again Ø Poor planning and heavy “troop” loss led to a disaster

#3 Ø 1189 - Muslims had recaptured all of the HL- The French, German, English, and HRE led armies in- But the German king died, French King and HRE left- so that left King Richard I( the Lionhearted) to battle with Saladin ( Muslim leader) Ø Both were respected but overall, Saladin kept Jerusalem for the Muslims

#4 Ø 1201 - French Knights set out this time- from Venice- and in order to pay for the trip they had to capture Zara for the HRE Ø Instead of going to Jerusalem- they got sidetracked and ransacked Constantinople ( another Christian city……) and never made it to Jerusalem

Many more and then finally By 1291 the Muslims had recaptured ALL of the holy land the Crusades were DONE ( unsuccessful for Christians) Ø Why, you may ask? Ø l l Had to travel far from home on FOOT- many died Weren’t prepared to battle in the desert Outnumbered by well prepared and well led armies Christians fought amongst themselves and were unorganized

Ø Crusades: l l l helped kings to become more powerful Created more tensions between Jews, Christians and Muslims increased trade increased towns increased disease…. .

Crusades

Many wanted to visit religious places - so went on pilgrimages to do sotraveled to Holy and religious sites around Europe and Asia u Some believed in the “church” so much that when they dies- they left land to the church- which was divided into fiefs- and the church became a lord- humor anyone? ? u

Being religious Monks of Cluny- French Monksunhappy with Church affairs- became a religious order and devoted lives to nothing but God u Dominicans and Franciscan friars lived in cities and spread Christian teachings- St. Francis of Assisi ( most famous one) u

u u As towns grew- eventually desire for education did as well 1 st university in Bologna, Italy also had them in Paris (Sorbonne) and England Thomas Aquinas- reasoned that rational thought could be used to argue Christian beliefs ( eg. existence of God ) Also Natural Law- God had created a law about how the world operated

Art/Architecture Had traveling musicians called troubadours or minstrels- and would sing and dance and make fun of people *showed devotion to God by: (during M. Ages): 1. Built huge churches called Cathedrals (ex. Notre Dame) 2. going on pilgrimages to Rome or Jerusalem u

1215 : Kings / Lords irritated with King John’s “idea’s” *limited his power with a legal document *called Magna Carta – at first only pertained to nobles but then to all “habeas corpus”- you have the body- meaning you had to have just cause to arrest someone, etc. u Created a Parliament- law making body that still governs England today!

Hundred Years’ War 1328 - the French king died- he had no heirs so England France battled for his throne- France won- but England did not relent- thus began the war! u For 100 years the English fought wellthen Joan of Arc ( French GIRL) rallied the French to stand against them- the English killed her- but the French succeeded! u

Effects England u Parliament's power grew u King now needed permission u King lost power u France u King’s power grew u Nobles supported their king! u

-Christianity in M. Ages(Many were Christian but there were also Muslims and Jews) Christian belief grew so strong M. Ages became know as Age of Faith *

Religion

BLACK DEATH Ø 1348 - Black Plague starts in Sienna, Italy Ø Infected fleas traveled on infected rats on ships Ø Spread disease- wiped out 1/3 of Europe’s entire population Ø Spread as far as Africa and Baghdad Ø Black Flags were flown to warn visitors of plague in the town Ø Lasted for 130 years

BLACK DEATH