The Middle Ages

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Living in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages began in approx. AD 500 and last until approx. AD 1500

**** This was after the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476.

The first civilizations in Europe were Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire included most of the land around the Mediterranean Sea.

Ancient Greece centered around the Aegean Sea, but had many colonies throughout

the Mediterranean World.

A Great Emperor

By the sixth century, a group of people known as The Franks began to establish a

powerful kingdom in Europe.

How did they extend their power?

They conquered neighboring peoples.

Charlemagne (Charles the Great …or…Magnificent)

People called him “the greatest man of all those living”

Ruled from AD 768 until AD 814

On Christmas Day, AD 800, Pope Leo III crowned him and proclaimed him Emperor.

**** This was a turning point in European history as it was the first time since the fall of

Rome that much of Europe was united under one gov’t.

His court at Aachen became a center of leaning: he started schools, attracted poets

and writers, and had many ancient Roman books copied.

GB – map on 213 shows the Frankish Empire

The Mighty Vikings

The North men – also called Vikings or Barbarians

What happened shortly after Charlemagne’s death in AD 814?

The Franks began to be terrorized by raiders from the North.

The Vikings were from Scandinavia (Today- Sweden, Norway, Finland….)

They were skillful sailors and fierce warriors. Their strategies for attack were speed

and surprise….they attacked by night!

For approx. 250 years, these raiders terrorized Europe.

Around the middle of the eleventh century, most Vikings settled down to become traders

and explorers.

FEUDALISM

- a term used to describe the Middle Age in Europe.

- Economic, social, and political system based on loyalty, obligation, and protection

- A way of organizing and governing society

Why did feudalism arise?

It arose due to a need for protection through cooperation.

TERMS

- Lords the owner and head of a feudal estate during the Middle Ages

- Vassals warriors who pledge their loyalty in return for land

- Nobles a person with a high rank in society with a hereditary title Duke, Earl, etc

- Serfs a peasant who is bound to the land (his/her manor)

- Fief the land which a vassal receives in return for his loyalty (in warfare)

- Tithe a tax

Hierarchy - a system of rank

Monarch (King or Queen)

Nobility – Lords, Dukes, Earls, etc.

Knights

Artisans, skilled crafts workers (millers, blacksmiths, etc.)

Serfs and peasants

****** Feudalism offered something for everyone. Each party gained something that it wanted.

For instance:

King: gave land in return for loyalty (in the form of armies)

Nobles: gave loyalty (support in battle) to king in return for land

Serfs: worked for noble in return for protection (serf was bound to the manor)

MANOR LIFE

Life during the Middle Ages was based around the manor.

A manor was a large farming estate where nobles and serfs lived and worked.

A manor was a self-sufficient unit. (It was able to produce everything that the people who lived on it needed.)

There were few towns or cities at this time in Europe.

Name some people who lived on a manor.

Serfs, knights, nobles, blacksmiths, millers, etc

** A person could spend his/her entire life on a manor!!!

Where would people gather if there was an attack by Vikings or invaders?

People would go to the castle for protection.

The Making of a Knight

During the Middle Ages, there was a constant threat of war or invasion.

Therefore, people needed protection.

The lord of a manor always needed to be prepared for battle.

From childhood, the male children of nobles were trained to become knights.

Knight - trained soldier, a specialist in warfare

STEPS in becoming a Knight

1. PAGE at age 7 Duties: servant or messenger

2. SQUIRE at age 14 Duties: took care of a knight, his horse, equipment,

and followed him into battle.

3. KNIGHT at age 20 Duties: pledged loyalty to a lord (He would fight

whenever he was needed.)

Chivalry - code of honor to which a knight was bound (He was to have

courage, honor, and a readiness to help the weak and to

protect women.)

A Harsh Life

From approximately AD 500 to AD 1000, life was very harsh.

Change came very slowly.

The system of feudalism DID NOT encourage:

1. growth

2. trade

3. learning