Chapter 13 and 14: The Middle Ages Notes
The Middle Ages:
The Rise of the Franks
Chapter 13 Section 1
Middle Ages
•Middle Ages: 400s-1500s A.D.
–Medieval Period
–Time between classical and modern age.
•Post Roman World: Barbarian tribes plunder Europe.
–Establish kingdoms.
The Franks
•Germanic Tribe who invaded Roman Empire
–Settled in Gaul
–France = Named after the Franks
–Contributed to shaping Europe in the Post-Roman Era.
Charlemange
•Frankish King “Charles the Great”
–Ruled from 768-814 A.D.
•Wanted to build a “New Rome”
–Spread Christianity
–Conquer neighboring kingdoms
*Lombards (Italy) *Saxons (Germany)
*Avars (Central Europe)
–Failed to conquer the Moors (Spain)
•Charlemagne's Empire
“Emperor of the Romans”
•Christmas Day 800.
•Pope Leo III crowned the Holy Roman Emperor.
•Never officially took the title.
Frankish Empire in Decline
•Charlemagne's empire didn’t last long after his death.
•Reasons:
–Heirs were not capable rulers
•Fought amongst themselves
–Division of Empire between heirs
•Treaty of Verdun: 843
–Invasion of Muslims, Slavs Magyars and Vikings
Chapter 13 Section 2
Feudalism and the Manorial System
Feudalism
900s: most of Europe was governed by local lords
This political and social organization led by these independent leaders became known
as feudalism
Feudalism
A noble grants land to a lesser noble
– In return gets loyalty, military assistance, and other services
Fief: grant of land given by a lord
Vassal- person who receives the grant
The vassal could divide his land and give it to knights
–then the vassal becomes a lord
Feudalism
Primogeniture- a system of inheritance from father to oldest son
Women may receive land in a dowry
–Remains the property of her husband
Lords: vassals to the king
Medieval church also practiced feudalism
–granted fiefs in return for military protection and service
Manorial System
Economic system; large farming estates that included manor houses, cultivated lands, woodlands, pastures, fields, and villages
Self sufficient societies: food, clothing, and shelter
Peasants:
–worked the land -shared crops
–provided services -paid taxes
Manorial System
Located along a stream or river for water power
Houses surround the castle for safety
The village, vegetable plots, cultivated fields, pastures, and forests make up the outer area
Peasant Life
Serfs- peasants; could not leave the land w/o the lord’s permission
Work: long hrs. in fields
Meals- black bread, lentils, some vegetables
Short life expectancies
Castles
Fortified base for the lord to protect the surrounding country side
Structures made of earth and wood, stone
Usually built on hills
–If on flat land a moat was built
The “keep”: a strong tower with workshops, barracks, and the lord’s living quarters
Warfare
Knights wore armor in battle and were heavily armed
Chain mail- small interlocking metal links
Iron helmets, a sword, large shield, and a lance
Feudal Justice
Trial by battle- a duel between accuser and accused; determined guilt or innocence
Compurgation- supporters swear that their person was telling the truth
Trial by ordeal- accused had to either:
–carry a piece of hot iron
–plunge his hand in a pot of boiling water
–survive extended immersion in cold water
Chivalry
A system of rules that dictated knights’ behavior towards others
Young boys work as pages/squires under a knight
–Learn knightly manners and care for weapons
–Takes care of the knight’s horse, armor, and weapons
If the squire proves himself in battle= knight
Code of Chivalry
Be courageous in battle
Loyal to friends and keep his word
Courteous to women and the less powerful
Required to extend courtesy only to his own class
Coat of Arms (Heraldry)
A graphic symbol that identified a knight -Represented his personal characteristics in battle
Painted or stitched onto the knight’s shield, his outer coat, or his horse’s trappings
Passed on through the generations
Chapter 13 Section 3: The Church
The Church and the Middle Ages
•Middle Ages: The Church’s presence was felt EVERYWHERE throughout Europe.
•1100s: Medieval Church was leading landowner
–Many church leaders = powerful feudal lords.
Church Hierarchy
•Pope: Supreme authority
•Cardinals: Advisors to the Pope
•Archbishops: In charge of an archdiocese and the bishops.
•Bishops: oversees a diocese.
–Administers two holy sacraments
•Confirmation and Holy orders
–Appoints Parish Priests
Seven Sacraments
•Parish Priest: responsible for religious instruction.
•5 Sacraments performed by the local Priests.
•1. Baptism4. Matrimony
•2. Holy communion 5. Penance
•3. Anointing the sick/dying
Monks and Nuns
•Saint Benedict: created rules for them to live by.
–Serve God through fasting, prayer and self-denial
–Communal living (no personal possessions)
–Helped the Poor
–Traveled as Missionaries
Church: Political Role
•Pope: Held political and spiritual power over the monarchies
•Canon Law: Church’s code of laws
•Interdict: Close churches in a region
–People denied eternal life
–Used against a disliked ruler
Church: Political Role
•Heretics: People who denied the teachings of the church
–Eternal damnation
•Tithe: Church tax
–1/10 of a Christians income
•Made the church the wealthiest institution in Europe.
Problems with the Church
•Lay investiture: Nobles appointing a friend/relative to be a bishop.
•Simony: Buy high positions in the church hierarchy.
•Wanted to gain money
Attempts at Reform
•Church began to seek out heretics
•Known as the Inquisition
•Confess sins = perform penance
•Denied sins = punished/executed
THE BLACK DEATH
•Bubonic Plague
•Started in China (1331). Spread along trade routes to Europe
–Lasted from 1347-1351
•Spread by BLACK RATS & FLEAS
SYMPTOMS
•Bubonic Plague:
–Buboes on the groin, armpits and neck
–Fevers, headaches, nausea, vomiting
–Eventually covered in dark blotches
• Pneumonic Plague:
–Fever, coughing up of blood, mucus and pus.
•Most died within 4-8 days of contracting disease.
IMPACT OF BLACK DEATH
•Estimated 1/3 -1/2 Population dead
–25-50 Million people
–People died so quickly, hard to keep records or bury.
•Shortage of workers: Demanded increase in wages.
•Lost faith in God and the Church
–God’s punishment for human wickedness
–No explanation or rational
Chapter 14 Section 1
The Crusades
Causes of the Crusades
•Seljuq Turks gained control of the Palestine-“Holy Land”
•Pope Urban II calls on church leaders and feudal lords to unite
•Wear the “cross of Christ” into battle
Why did they join?
•10,000 European Crusaders- “marked with the cross”
–Save their souls (go to heaven if they died on crusade)
–Some knights hoped to gain land and wealth
–Merchants went to make money
The First Crusade (1096-1099)
•French and Italian forces travel through the Byzantine Empire to Palestine
•Difficult trip due to:
–Wool and leather clothing,
–lack of food and water
•Surround the city of Jerusalem; capture and massacre the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants
The First Crusade: Results
•Much of the Holy Land under European control
•Feudal system is introduced in the area
•Trade increases between Europe and the Holy Land
•Christians and Muslims begin to respect each other
•Many Europeans adopt Eastern customs, clothing, and food
The Second Crusade
•1146 the Turkish Muslims reunited their forces
•King Louis VII (France) and the German king, Conrad III, led separate armies across Europe
•Combined, they attempted but failed to capture the city of Damascus
•Return to Europe in 1149
The Third Crusade
•Muslim leader Saladin gained control of Jerusalem
•Armies were led by:
–Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
–King Philip II of France
–King Richard I of England
•Richard gains a truce; allows for Christian control of some towns along the Palestinian coast and to enter Jerusalem freely
Fourth Crusade
•Pope Innocent III gathers French Knights
•Venetians provide the ships for travel
–Encourage crusaders to attack Zadar and Constantinople
–Both cities are Christian
•Venetians gain control of Zadar and the Byzantine trade
Children’s Crusade
•Young people are organized to march and take over the “Holy Land” for Christianity
•Lack of training, equipment, and supplies
–Becomes a hungry, disorganized mob
•Some were sent home by the Pope, some were tricked into slavery
Weapons and Warfare
•Crossbow
•Catapults
•Digging under walls
•Gunpowder was also introduced to Europeans by the Muslims
Political Changes
•Many nobles either died or lost their land to pay for the crusade
–European kings grew stronger without the lords
•Kings levied new taxes and led armies from entire countries
•Popes and the Christian church gained power as organizers of the crusades
Ideas and Trade
•Gained knowledge from the Byzantines and Muslims
•Began to buy southwest Asian good such as apricots, lemons, melons, rice, and sugar