January 25, Background to the Middle Ages

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1 January 25, 2016 Background to the Middle Ages The Middle Ages are a period of time in which Europe enters a dark age which lasts for approximately 1,000 years. It is important to note that this only occurred in the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire (known as the Byzantine Empire after 476 AD) did not experience this collapse of society and regression of technology.

2 What caused the collapse of the Western Roman Empire? 1. Unemployment. Widespread for many years. 2. Imports exceeding exports. 3. Inflation 4. Political instability caused by a long line of incompetent rulers. 5.Rise of Christianity 6. Germanic invasions Terms to know: imports: goods produced in a foreign country and purchased by another country. exports: goods produced in one country and sold to another country. mercantilism: An economic system based on trade in which a country tries to maintain a favorable balance of trade by importing less then they export. inflation: when the value of money decreases over time.

3 Chapter 9 Charlemagne: ruled c.e. In the 600s and 700s the Frankish Kings lost power to chief officers of the king's household called, mayors of the palace. One of the mayors, Pepin, assumed the kingship. His son, Charles (the great) or Charlemagne, became king in 768. Charlemagne engaged in 54 military campaigns while increasing his empire. In the year 800 c.e., he was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III this was a union of Christian, Roman, and German traditions all under one rule. Charlemagne's Empire was known as the Carolingian Empire. This empire was ruled by local lords and nobles. The empire collapes right after the death of Charlegmagne in 814. By 844 the kingdom was split into three main sections by Charlemagne's grandson's. Leaving what would become France, Germany and the stretch of land between the two countries that they have fought over for centuries. Invasions also plague the empire. The muslims invade Spain, the Magyars invade Western Europe an vikings invade from the North.

4 Feudalism: a political and social system that arose in the 800s that was based on people seeking protection from local lords and aristocrats in exchange for labor. Invaders posed a threat to the people after the fall of Western Rome. The lack of central government caused the people to turn to local, landed aristocrats and nobles to be able to protect them. Landlord: The aristocrat who owned a parcel of land in the middle ages. Frequently called a lord but may not have this title. (Lords, knights (sirs) or the church may have been landlords.) Vassal: A person who receives land from the lord (landlord) in exchange for military service. Feudal Contract An agreement between a lord (land owner) and vassal in which land was exchanged for military service. TypicalTerms of a Feudal Contract: A typical feudal contract might include: Lord provides: A large piece of land (fief) on which the vassal can establish a manor. Agrees to protect the vassal and his manor militarily if needed. Agrees to side with the vassal in court if needed. (Court was a gathering of nobility which would settle conflicts among aristocrats.)

5 Vassal provides: Military service. Will fight for the lord when needed. Agrees to serve in the lord's court. Agrees to entertain the lord and give money for special services. (Wedding of daughter, etc.) The land (fief) was payment. The vassal was getting a manor which could sustain him economically. This was very important because only a rich man could sustain a horse and armor to fight in the style of the day. It also allowed him the freedom from working his own land so that the vassal would have time to train to be a knight. Manorial System: An economic system based agricultural estates which were operated by lords and worked on by peasants. The manorial system replaced slavery which had been prevalent in Rome because it was cheaper for slaves to be established on small parcels of land and feed themselves rather than for the slaveholder to have to do this. Serf: peasants who agreed to bind themselves legally to the land on which they worked in exchange for physical and financial protection.

6 Typical feudal contract between a lord and serf: Lord provides: -physical protection -financial protection (food). -land on which to live and work. Serf provides: -3 days of labor on lord's land. Sun up to sun down. -40% of all items produced on the lord's land, including the serf's section. -pay taxes and fees accordingly. - These contracts are signed with the male head of the household and apply to everyone in the family. This is even extended to future generations. How would you feel if you were born as a serf because one of your ancestors from the 1800's signed a contract making him, and his descendants, a serf?

7 The Crusades The Byzantine emperor, Alexius I, asked Pope Urban II for help in reclaiming the Holy Land which had been conquered by the Seljuk Turks. (Muslims who conquered land formerly belonging to the Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire). The Pope like this idea because: 1. An opportunity to provide papal leadership for a "great" religious cause. -Called on all Christians to rid the Holy Land (Jerusalem) from the Muslim "nonbelievers. -Promised salvation to all crusaders. 2. This was a great way to rid Europe of troublesome nobles. (Europe was constantly in conflict due, in part, to "landless" nobles who were eager to prove themselves in battle in order to obtain a fiefdom of their own.)

8 Nobles liked this plan because: 1. An opportunity to fight! 2. Adventure 3. A chance to gain riches, status and a title. ---->This word is "stone."

9 Papal States: A large amount of land on the Italian Peninsula that was under the control of the Pope. -The Pope became involved in the feudal system as the importance of trade routes emerged in N. Italy. state: a politically organized body of people occupying a definite territory. Especially one that is sovereign., sovereign: having supreme rule or authority to rule. Examples: In a democracy, the people are sovereign. The king has sovereignty in a monarchy.

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11 heretics: a person convicted a heresy. A charge of holding beliefs that are contrary to church doctrine. Joan of Arc was convicted of heresy by The Inquisition and was burned alive. January 25, 2016

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13 ` The rise of the king.

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15 ruled January 25, 2016

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17 This document limits the power of the monarch. -This marks the beginning of a struggle for power with the King of England which will continue into the future. Bubonic Plague: The Black Death A highly contagious disease which originated with fleas on black rats. Long Term Results: -It killed 1/3 of Europe's Population. -Contributes to the eventual end of serfdom. (Labor shortage.) -Led to persecution of many Jews.

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