middle ages

What Charlemagne accomplished C

He conquered land and made allies. In the year 800, the pope crowned him emperor. He believed it was a king's job to care for his people. He gave his lands unified government and provided roads, schools and protection for their trade. When he died in 814, his empire broke into pieces.

why did poor farmers and laborers give up their freedom

europe fell into a period of chaos after the roman empire crumbled when there were no real governments. they gave up freedom in exchange for the protection of powerful landowners

lesser nobles

nobles of lower standing were granted fiefs by the church or higher level nobles in return for loyalty and service, mainly providing knights for battle as needed. These nobles in turn allotted some of their land to serfs on the manors in exchange for labor, taxes and obedience

state of economy in high middle ages

Back home in Europe, things were booming. By the 1100s, people developed new techniques for growing more food in the same amount of space. More food meant less starvation and more people. More people meant more work could get done. In the towns, merchants hired people to make things. For the first time in the Middle Ages a lot of people, not just the nobility had a little money in their pockets. With money to spend and food to eat, people could put time and energy into making beautiful thing This became the golden age of building cathedrals, chateaux, and castles that were comfortable and defendable. The serfs and peasants worked hard, but since there were good growing seasons, there was always food on the table (until the second half of the 1200s).

manor lord's responsibilities

defending the land from attack and providing each serf family with land to farm

land barons

king gave about 55% of his land to barons, nobles who pleaded loyalty and defense as needed for battle. Barons then gave fiefs to other nobles who would swear loyalty and provide needed knights

lord's lifestyle

lives in well protected dwelling, frequently a wooden castle. Lord had responsibility of finding a market for excess food, also organization construction and maintenance of bridges, served as judge of the village.

High Middle Ages

900-1250; crusades happened

feudalism

system of exchange of land in exchange for military protection

crusades

A long series of Wars between Christians and Muslims They fought over control of Jerusalem which was called the Holy Land because it was the region where Jesus had lived, preached and died

the church

was granted about 25% of the king;s land. Bishops then granted fiefs to tenants, nobles who promised to defend the land and supply knights for battle as needed

Description of Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

was tall, a great hunter, good father, and known to invite anyone he met to dinner. He was fascinated with learning, so he sat down with schoolboys to hear what their teachers had to say. He was a fearless warrior who personally led his men into battle. Before he died, he said to his people, "Be humble and kind to one another." Charlemagne came from the Kingdom of Frank. "Frank" is Latin word which means "free." Today when we say we want to frankly, it means we want to speak freely or in an open and sincere manner.

The Crusades

were a series of holy wars fought by Christian soldiers. The first one took place in 1095 because holy sites of the Christian religion were controlled by Muslims in Jerusalem. The pope guaranteed that soldiers in the Crusades would go to heaven with all their sins forgiven. There were a total of 8 Crusades.

serfs

were given land for their use in exchange for farm labor and other services provided to their controlling noble, as requested

Dark ages

usually used to define Europe after the 5th century fall of the Roman Empire. Due to the upheaval of the era, historical records are scarce. However, there are several people from this era who have made their mark on the history books. Today we'll be discussing one of the most famous: William the Conqueror. In order to understand his importance, let's take a look at the topsy-turvy political structure of the Dark Ages. The political structure of the Dark Ages is known as manorialism. Within this system, the wealthy, usually called lords, owned land known as a manor. The peasant class worked on these manors and in turn were given food, shelter, and protection. Since wars were usually waging, outside trading opportunities were very scarce. To provide for themselves, manors were self-sustaining, producing what was needed for survival. After the 5th century fall of the Roman Empire, Europe descended into chaos. Facing Germanic invasions from the north, local lords warring for power, and even kings trying but failing to establish strong empires, the cultural and political lights went out, and Europe entered the Dark Ages. During this time, Europeans turned to manorialism for some semblance of order and structure. Within this system, wealthy lords owned manors, and the peasant class worked these manors in turn for food, shelter, and protection. Amidst this chaos, William the Conqueror became Duke of Normandy, then he set his sights on the English crown. After defeating King Harold of England at the Battle of Hastings, an event which is recorded in theuber-famous Bayeux Tapestry, William ruthlessly subdued England in the horrible Harrying of the North. Not content with merely subduing the lands, William also conducted a large census, recorded for history in the famous Domesday Book. With all this in mind, it's pretty easy to see why he's been given the title William the Conqueror. The Bayeux Tapestry is a visual record of the Battle of Hastings and the events that led up to it. It is meant to justify William the Conqueror's invasion of England in 1066 CE. Learn how it was constructed, the history behind it and how the story unfolds through a long series of images.

Late Middle Ages

1250-1500 ; Black Death occurred

Lord's 3 responsibilities

1) give military protection to his land and its inhabitants 2) organize agriculture, industry, and trade on his lands- role of he manor was to produce food for he lord and his subjects; 3) serve the lord or lords above him (the highest lord being the king) in war

Early Middle Ages

400-900; Charlemagne ruled during this time

Identify a positive and a negative result of trade in medieval Europe and assess its impact on the modern world.

A positive result of trade in medieval Europe would be the cultural diffusion that was created. As trade happened with the east, the west learned new ideas and learned about new products. Even today we still rely on information, ideas, and products from other parts of the world. A negative result of trade would have been the spread of diseases. Those diseases killed many people of Europe and that ultimately changed the way life progressed from then forward. For example, whole villages of people and relatives died off. Also, what if one of those people who died would have later had a child that created the cure to cancer....

second crusade

After victory many Christians went back home. The Turks eventually took back much of the territory. King of France and Emperor of Germany sent troops to stop the Turks. They were defeated.

perspectives on the first crusade

Christians believed they were fighting the Crusades in the name of Jesus to take back the place of his birth from infidels. Muslims believed they were defending land that was theirs. From their perspective, Christians were brutal invaders.

Effect of crusades

Didn't just bring back loot, they brought back Muslim knowledge about medicine, science, and philosophy. They also brought back the Arabic numerals that we still use today. The Crusades started and ended as a military effort to conquer distant lands, but in between, they became one of the greatest cultural exchange programs in history.

chivalry

Europe in the Middle Ages was a dangerous place. Invasions from Muslims, Mongols, and other tribal groups were common. War between lords was common. The value of protection and warriors created a social code called Chivalry. Knights fought for lords and ladies and lived by a gentleman-warrior code of Chivalry.

arrival of the black plague

Historians think that the plague arrived in England during the summer of 1348. During the following autumn it spread quickly through the south west. Few villages escaped. Churchyards were full with bodies. The plague spread quickly during the winter of 1348-1349 to the north of England. By 1350, nearly the whole of Britain was infected with the plague. At the end of 1350 nearly two and a half million people were dead!

Problems King John faced

He quarrelled with the Pope about how to run the Church. From 1208 until 1213, the Pope banned all church services in England and English people feared that they would not go to heaven! Some Church leaders blamed John for the trouble. John went to war twice against the French king. His army was badly beaten both times. He lost almost all the land that his father had gained in France! John raised taxes in England to pay for the wars. This upset his BARONS! He ordered them to pay far more tax than earlier kings had done!

results of the crusade

I.F. Turks Traveled they would Trade I = Improvements - Ships, Maps, Explorers F = Feudalism declines because Feudal lords die or spend too much money on military. T = Turks still rule the Holy Land T = Travel - Europeans want to travel more; they were more interested in Asia. T = Trade - Europeans want products from the East such as sugar, cotton, silk, spices, etc. Lead to an exchange of ideas between Asia and Europe.

First crusade

In 1095, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I contacted Pope Urban II about the threat of Turkish armies against Constantinople and the Fatamid Muslim's control of Jerusalem In November 1096, Pope Urban II considered Alexios' plea at the Council of Claremont, and called for a crusade against the Muslim Turks. Ten of thousands of peasants, nobles, and clergy responded to Urban II's call. In the spring and summer of 1096, armies of Crusaders departed from Western Europe for Constantinople. Prior to the Crusades, there was infighting between Sunni Seljuk Turks, who had conquered a lot of land and the Shi'ite Fatamid Caliphate. Just before the First Crusade, the Fatamids captured Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks. Knowing the Crusaders were coming, the Fatamids expelled all Christians from Jerusalem. Between 1096 and 1099, Crusader armies made their way to Jerusalem, engaging in several major battles with Turkish forces. On July 17, 1099, Crusaders took the city of Jerusalem, after a long and costly siege. Some historians estimate the number of casualties at 100,000.

How did the barons strike back against King John

In 1214 many barons rebelled against John. They believed that he could not rule the country properly and was treating them unfairly. If someone did not do something the whole country could be ruined! In 1215 the barons forced John to grant a charter, which was the first time anyone had expected an English king to obey a set of rules.

Black Death

In 1347, a plague ccame to Europe. In three years, ½ of the people in Europe died. Grain rotted in the fields because there weren't enough workers to harvest it. The workers that survived tried to demand higher wages and there were rebellions between the peasants and the lords.

How might increased trade with China and the Middle East have impacted later medieval society which had previously been so isolated?

Increased trade with the eastern part of the world opened Europe up to many new ideas. It helped spark the age of enlightenment (new ideas) as well as the Renaissance (a time of great artistic, intellectual and scientific achievements in Europe).

motivation of the pope in starting the first crusade

Indeed, one major incentive for the First Crusade was the Pope's desire to bring the Greek Orthodox Christians of the East under the control of the Roman Catholic Church in the West. By helping Byzantium reclaim its territory, Urban hoped to make the Byzantines dependent upon the West and bring its people back into the fold of Western Christendom. Yet Urban was not just interested in expanding his power in the East. He also wanted to reinforce his power back at home in the West. The most likely religious reason for the First Crusade was Urban's desire to establish peace in Western Europe. Urban did not mind Christians killing Muslims; he just didn't want Christians killing Christians. Urban hoped to redirect the warlike tendency of Europe in a more productive vein and assert his power unto both Eastern and Western Europe all in one fell swoop.

cruelty of the crusades

Like the People's Crusade before, the crusaders murdered Jews along their way, and once they reached the Holy Land, they slaughtered every Muslim they got their hands on: men, women, and children. When Jerusalem fell, the Crusaders murdered every Muslim in the city.

role of lord's wife

Lord's wife was equally busy. supervised tasks of servants, and bore and raised many children. If her husband went to war, she took over financial and military management of the manor; if her husband died and they had no son, when inherited the estate.

How was manorialism different from feudalism?

Manorialism revolved around the day to day function of the manor and described each person in society's role on the manor. It was not a government system. Feudalism was a government system that showed who was highest and lowest in medieval society as well as created a contract between members of society where each person received something in return for their service to the person above them.

How did feudalism provide for the security of all the people of medieval Europe.

Nobles and knights provided protection to both the highest person in society, the king, as well as the lowest people in society, the serfs. They provided protection to all in exchange for land and labor.

later crusades

One by one, the Crusader states would fall back into the hands of the infidel, and the hard won city of Jerusalem was in constant need of rescue. As Christian Crusaders grew ever more frustrated with their failure against their Muslim foe, they began to turn the crusading spirit against their fellow Christians. In the Fourth Crusade, they conquered the Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople. And by the turn of the 13th century, Popes were sending Christian kings on crusade against other Christian kings. n the later Crusades, the Holy Land was prepared for the Crusaders, and the many failings of the crusading movement led to a series of unmitigated disasters. The gross ignorance of the Crusaders combined with their lack of clear leadership and failure to commit all combined to doom the later Crusades. The Crusaders had no real notion of the geography, climate, or political structure of the Near East. Crusaders often failed to even make it to the Holy Land. Northern Europeans, in their full armor, sweltered in the heat of Mediterranean summers. The shifting political power of the Middle East meant that a Crusader would sign a peace treaty with one leader, only to have that peace treaty violated by another. The Crusaders also had no clear leadership. Lords and kings squabbled among themselves, and popes struggled to keep the crusading armies pointed in the right direction. The Crusaders never seem to have made a real commitment to retaking the Holy Land.

First crusade

Peasant army Untrained Lacked military equipment Many killed by Muslim Turks Knights Succeeded in capturing Jerusalem

why Saladin's behavior toward Richard the Lionheart was considered "true chivalry."

Saladin gave Richard the Lionheart 2 of his war horses because he didn't want to have an advantage in battle. Then Richard the Lionheart beat him.

third crusade

Saladin leads the Muslim Turks to victory, defeating the Christians * He was considered a very wise ruler. He was known for his sometimes kind treatment of fallen enemies. Many Christians saw him as a model of knightly chivalry. King Richard of England convinces the Turks to allow Christians to visit the Holy Land

effect of black death

The art of craftsmanship crumbled during the High Middle Ages because many of the craftsmen died and knowledge of their craft died with them. For much of the Middle Ages, church leaders had great power and influence over the people's lives, but during the Black Death, people saw that church leaders were just as helpless and vulnerable as everyone else. In fact after something as terrible as the Black Death, Europe was never the same.

What does the Code of Chivalry tell us about medieval values in general?

The church is the most important institution/factor in society. Knights should fight for their land/country and never give in to the enemy. Knights should live a respectable life and do the honorable thing at all times.

Why do you think the church unified Europeans and gave every person a sense of how the world worked?

The church taught the same message to everyone, no matter what their status in society was. Everyone in medieval society was expected to live by the same laws of the church and pay taxes to the church. Finally, medieval European societies believed that everyone was shown "the way to everlasting life and happiness" if they followed and learned the responsibilities of being a Christian.

King John

The first king to give up some of his power was John. He is famous as Prince John in make believe stories of Robin Hood. In the stories he is a wicked and foolish prince who taxes the people of England unfairly. Some historians say King John was just as foolish in real life. John ruled England from 1199 to 1216. He faced the following problems...

How did the Black Death change people's view of the church leaders?

The people realized that church leaders were just as vulnerable and helpless as the rest of them. It didn't matter how much you prayed or how holy you were - anyone could catch the Black Death.

contradictions in the life of a crusader

The pope told crusaders that they would go to heaven and be forgiven of their sins if they fought to win back the Holy Land. This is a contradiction because they were killing in the name of God and breaking one of the 10 Commandments.

success of the first crusade

The startling success of the First Crusade accomplished many of the things Pope Urban had hoped for. It greatly increased the power of the papacy, a lesson that future Popes would heed well. And though it failed to bring the Eastern Orthodox Byzantines under the wing of the Church, it certainly had put them in Rome's debt. Moreover, a sense of unified purpose brought Europe's kings together for the first time. Though they never did stop working against one another, Europe enjoyed a period of relative peace, as its excess military energy was expanded abroad. The more secular desires of Europe's aristocracy were also fulfilled. New kingdoms were carved out of the Middle East. Venetian trade penetrated even deeper. Lords gained prestige and glory on their crusades and escaped the boredom of courtly life by visiting strange new places and brutally murdering their inhabitants.

How might medieval society have been different if one level of society had no role in the feudal system? (i.e. there were no knights)

The whole feudal system would shut down if one level had no role. If any role disappeared (i.e. serfs to provide labor and food to manor inhabitants) then there would be a shortage of people to do that job when they also had to provide protection and possibly be away fighting at the same time. How would their families get food if not for serfs there working the large fields?

What happened under the romans and what happened without the Romans

Under the Romans there was unity and a common culture. Without the Romans, Europe was divided into smaller kingdoms often at war with each another.

how was the plague spread

We now know that the most common form of the Black Death was the BUBONIC PLAGUE! This disease was spread by fleas which lived on the black rat. The fleas sucked the rat's blood which contained the plague germs. When the rat died the fleas jumped on to humans and passed on the deadly disease.

how, in the Middle Ages, surplus of food was connected to the arts.

When there was enough food, people didn't worry about their next meal and could think about making beautiful things and doing things they like. This is still true today.

how does feudalism relate to manorialism

about the hierarchy at the manor where most of the people were serfs and received land in exchange for farm labor and other jobs (like blacksmith, stone masons and baker)

manorialism

brought order to medieval europe. Most people lived on manors - communities of peasants under he control of a manor lord. Reasons, called serfs, grew crops, raised animals and had skilled workers who provided services for the family.

serf's responsibilities

couldn't leave the manor without permissions; worked the lord's fields; performed other jobs for lord, paid various forms of taxes

magna carta

rules given to King John. Included: 1. Not to imprison nobles without trial 2. That trials must be in courts; not held in secret by me 3. To have fair taxation for the nobles 4. To let freemen travel wherever they like 5. Not to interfere in Church matters 6. Not to seize crops without paying for them

description of a typical manor

serf's cottages, barns and gardens were clustered together into a small village which usually also had a church, a mill and an olive or wine press. The village was surrounded by 3 sections of land: 1/3 was common farmland shared and worked by serfs, 1/3 was the manor's house and lord's farmland; and 1/3 was commond lands (pastures and woodlands).

effect of magna carta

stated that the LAW, not the king, was the supreme power in England. Magna Carta was an important factor in changing Europe into a democracy rather than a monarchy.

the king

traditionally owned all the land of his realm, but only kept about 20% for his own use. Beyond tat he gave land to the church and land barons in exchange for loyalty and service

three field system of farming

two fields were used for crops and their third was left fallow, allowing it to regain nutrients before being plowed and planted

roman catholic church in medieval europe

unified the people of medieval europe. was the single most important force in their lives. everyone was required to live by the church's laws and to tithe to support the church. church also accepted gifts- but gifts ween't required. Head of the church was the pope. Many people devoted their lives o doing the church's work.