Early Middle Ages

Mr. KochWorld History A

Forest Lake High School

Middle Ages

• Generally considered to be around 500 – 1450 AD– Not the drab, uneventful

period often depicted

Early Middle Ages• Social structure → Feudalism– Lords control large portions

of land• Vassal bound to lord by “feudal contract”• Fief (estate) granted to vassal

in exchange for:– Military service, money,

counsel• Serfs/peasants work for lord

and pay fees/taxes– In return, received use of land

and protection– Very hard life

Early Middle Ages• Knighthood– Began training as early as

age 7 in warfare– Usually had a feudal-type

relationship with a lord– When warfare became less

common – replaced with tournaments

– “Chivalry” – quasi-formal code of conduct for knights

Early Middle Ages

• Castles– Nobles fortify

homes/territory to protect from attack• Varied in size – some

protect entire cities

– Women often took increased roles while men at war• Inheritance was

complicated/inconsistent

Early Middle Ages

• Franks– 486 AD – King Clovis

conquers Gaul (Merovingians)

• Clovis converts to Christianity (religion of Gauls)

– Battle of Tours (732 AD) – Charles Martel• Franks defeat Muslim army

advancing from Spain

Early Middle Ages• Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

(Carolingians)

– Spent most of his life trying to conquer Europe and reunite the old Roman Empire as a Christian empire

Early Middle Ages• Charlemagne (cont’d)– Around 800 AD he helps

crush a rebellion in Rome• Pope Leo III names him

Emperor of Romans– Eastern Roman Emperor not

happy

• Heirs battle for power after his death (814 AD)

• Empire loses its unity under pressure/invasions from Muslims, Magyars (Hungarians) , Vikings