Early Middle AgesEarly Middle Ages

500-1000 A.D.500-1000 A.D.

Three RootsThree Roots

1) Classical Roman Heritage1) Classical Roman Heritage

2) Roman Catholic Church2) Roman Catholic Church

3) Customs of multiple German tribes3) Customs of multiple German tribes

““The Dark Ages”The Dark Ages”

Constant WarfareConstant Warfare– Disrupted tradeDisrupted trade– Towns declined/ rise of feudal systemTowns declined/ rise of feudal system– Decline of literacyDecline of literacy

Barbarians could not read or writeBarbarians could not read or write Romans lost literacy due to moving to Romans lost literacy due to moving to

countrysidecountryside By 600 Priests were only literate EuropeansBy 600 Priests were only literate Europeans Multiple dialects also emerged causing Multiple dialects also emerged causing

communication issuescommunication issues

The Church Expands PowerThe Church Expands Power

The church soon expanded its power The church soon expanded its power into the political arena.into the political arena.

Pope gave king credibilityPope gave king credibility In return, King provided military In return, King provided military

protection to Roman landsprotection to Roman lands Kings crowned by PopeKings crowned by Pope Pope gained control of Papal StatesPope gained control of Papal States

Sources of Expanding PowerSources of Expanding Power LiteracyLiteracy

HeavenHeaven

St. PatrickSt. Patrick– Missonary who convinced Clovis, King of Franks, to convertMissonary who convinced Clovis, King of Franks, to convert

MonasteriesMonasteries– Community of PrayerCommunity of Prayer– Men in Monastery & Women in ConventMen in Monastery & Women in Convent– Rules of Monastic living designed by Benedict and sister ScholasticaRules of Monastic living designed by Benedict and sister Scholastica

Gregory IGregory I– Pope who strengthened vision of ChristendomPope who strengthened vision of Christendom– Made papacy office of political and spiritual life.Made papacy office of political and spiritual life.

Negotiated Peace treaties with Barbarians Negotiated Peace treaties with Barbarians Wrote Religious BooksWrote Religious Books

Monk Writing ManuscriptMonk Writing Manuscript

Manuscripts had to be copied by Manuscripts had to be copied by hand usually in scriptorium in the hand usually in scriptorium in the monastery before invention of monastery before invention of printing press.printing press.

St. PatrickSt. Patrick

Benedict & Monastic LifeBenedict & Monastic Life

Gregory I & ChristendomGregory I & Christendom

Rise of CharlemagneRise of Charlemagne Divine RightDivine Right

– Charlemagne believed his power came from GodCharlemagne believed his power came from God

Great WarriorGreat Warrior– Spread Empire larger than had been know since Spread Empire larger than had been know since

Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Loved Learning Loved Learning – ordering schools and libraries to be builtordering schools and libraries to be built– Allowing Jews in his kingdom b/c they were Allowing Jews in his kingdom b/c they were

literateliterate

Greater Split with ChurchesGreater Split with Churches

In 800 took troops to Rome to In 800 took troops to Rome to protect Pope from an uprisingprotect Pope from an uprising

Pope placed crown on Charlemagne, Pope placed crown on Charlemagne, declaring him Emperordeclaring him Emperor

Byzantine Empire furious because Byzantine Empire furious because they claimed their ruler was only true they claimed their ruler was only true Emperor of RomeEmperor of Rome

Roman Catholic and Greek (Eastern) Roman Catholic and Greek (Eastern) Orthodox increase tensionsOrthodox increase tensions

Charlemagne’s Empire Charlemagne’s Empire CollapsesCollapses

Three Grandsons argue over his Three Grandsons argue over his Empire and go to Civil WarEmpire and go to Civil War

Finally Agree to Treaty of VerdunFinally Agree to Treaty of Verdun

New Invaders attack and plunder, New Invaders attack and plunder, most dreaded… The Vikings!most dreaded… The Vikings!

Vikings InvadeVikings Invade

For 2 centuries Vikings plundered For 2 centuries Vikings plundered EuropeEurope

Viking Warrior Viking Warrior

Viking Terror Ends for 3 Viking Terror Ends for 3 ReasonsReasons

Europeans became better at Europeans became better at defending themselves from Viking defending themselves from Viking raidsraids

Vikings converted to ChristianityVikings converted to Christianity Climate warmed making farming Climate warmed making farming

easier in northern parts of Europeeasier in northern parts of Europe

Rise of FeudalismRise of Feudalism

Feudalism: Political and Military Feudalism: Political and Military System based on land holdingSystem based on land holding

Feudalism arose from the Feudalism arose from the disappearance of citiesdisappearance of cities

Fear of the BarbariansFear of the Barbarians Emphasis on Local Government, Emphasis on Local Government,

Local Protection, Self-sufficiencyLocal Protection, Self-sufficiency

The Players in the Feudal The Players in the Feudal SystemSystem

Lords & VassalsLords & VassalsKingKing

Duke Bishop EarlsDuke Bishop Earls

Knights PriestsKnights Priests Knights Knights

Free peasantsFree peasants F.P.F.P. Free Free PeasantsPeasants

SerfsSerfs SerfsSerfs SerfsSerfs

The Heart of the Feudal The Heart of the Feudal SystemSystem

Oath between Lord and Vassal which Oath between Lord and Vassal which traded physical loyalty for landtraded physical loyalty for land– InvestitureInvestiture– But was the Heart Broken?But was the Heart Broken?– Knights often gave loyalty to more than Knights often gave loyalty to more than

one Vassal. This became a problem one Vassal. This became a problem when the 2 Vassals went to war with one when the 2 Vassals went to war with one another.another.

The LandThe Land

Fief: usually a few square milesFief: usually a few square miles Manor: a Manor: a self-sufficientself-sufficient portion of the portion of the

fieffief– Ideally on a stream or river for fishing/ Ideally on a stream or river for fishing/

foodfood– 1/3 for growing grain1/3 for growing grain– Another area for animals to pastureAnother area for animals to pasture– Rest was forestRest was forest

ManorManor

FiefFief

A day in the LifeA day in the Life Kings– Enjoying parties, sports, huntingKings– Enjoying parties, sports, hunting Clergy– Tending to multiple Fiefs/ Manors, Clergy– Tending to multiple Fiefs/ Manors,

tending to church, involved in politics, tending to church, involved in politics, lived good lifelived good life

Nobles– Tending to multiple Fiefs/ Manors Nobles– Tending to multiple Fiefs/ Manors & spending time in King’s court& spending time in King’s court

Knights– fighting and tending to ManorKnights– fighting and tending to Manor Free Peasants– Could leave land but owed Free Peasants– Could leave land but owed

more than ½ of income ($ and grain, etc.) more than ½ of income ($ and grain, etc.) to lordto lord

Peasants– Serfs, not bought and sold or Peasants– Serfs, not bought and sold or traded like slaves, but couldn’t leave landtraded like slaves, but couldn’t leave land

Medieval King’s CastleMedieval King’s Castle

Medieval Peasant’s HomeMedieval Peasant’s Home

Rules of the GameRules of the Game ObjectObject: To survive: To survive

Deadly ScenariosDeadly Scenarios::– Viking AttackViking Attack: to block, must have 5 knights to defend : to block, must have 5 knights to defend

you. If not, you die, and fiefs go back to Lord.you. If not, you die, and fiefs go back to Lord.– Moor AttackMoor Attack: Must have 7 knights: Must have 7 knights– FamineFamine: Knights must have 8 Fiefs, Kings 15: Knights must have 8 Fiefs, Kings 15– DiseaseDisease: You can die of disease at any time: You can die of disease at any time

Knight or King may declare war on any other Knight or King may declare war on any other person. Group with greater # of people wins. person. Group with greater # of people wins. Winners take fraction of losers land (determined Winners take fraction of losers land (determined by me).by me).