MEDIEVAL EUROPE

Changes in Europe after the Fall of Rome

Disruption of Trade – trade routes are no longer protected – businesses collapse – cities are no longer centers of trade – leads to…….

Downfall of Cities – leads to……Population Shifts – people move from the

city to the country

Decline of Learning – Germanic tribes had no written language Knowledge of Greek is lost Education confined to monasteries

Loss of Common Language (Latin) New dialects develop – the beginning of the Romance

languages

Transition to a Germanic Society: 400-600

Government becomes decentralized Emphasis is on family ties and personal

loyaltyGoverned by unwritten rules and traditionsCommunities are made up of chiefs and

warriors who fight and in return get food, weapons and “booty”.

(Think Beowulf or Skyrim.)

Clovis: 466 – 511 CE

Contributions

Founder of the Merovingian DynastyUnited all of the Franks under one ruler Conquered Gaul laying the groundwork for

the future nation of FranceConverts to Christianity – gains support of

the ChurchFUN FACT: The name Louis is derived from

Clovis and 18 French kings will bear this name!

Charles “the Hammer” Martel: 686 – 741 CE

Contributions

Mayor of the palace / leader of army and policy maker – held more power than the king!

Extended Frankish territoryVictorious over the army of the Umayyad

Caliphate (Al-Andalus / Spain) at the Battle of Tours which halted the expansion of Islam into Europe

Charlemagne / Charles the Great: 742 – 814 CE

Contributions

Expanded Frankish territory into an empire covering most of Western Europe

This had the effect of spreading ChristianityCrowned emperor by Pope Leo III in

recognition of his defense of Rome – the first Holy Roman Emperor A growing alliance between the Church and state

Supported education – brought scholars to court, opened monastery schools, expanded monastery libraries

The Treaty of Verdun: 843 CE

What do you think will be the impact of this treaty?

Invasions of the 9th to 11th Centuries

The Vikings

The word Viking = Norse for piracyVikings or Norse come from 3 main areas:

Denmark Sweden Norway

The Danes invaded England in 865 and take over the Eastern half of the island. They might have taken over the whole place if Alfred the Great hadn’t stopped them!

The Swedes

FUN FACT: The Finnish name for the Swedes was the Rus. They settled in the area of what would become St. Petersburg and found the first Russian state in the Ukraine.

Norwegians

Fun Fact

FUN FACT: To this day, Iceland has a pagan leader. And road crews sometimes consult with mediums to make sure that they won’t disturb the elves.

Impact of Invasions

Further decentralized governmentDestabilized EuropePeople looked for local solutions to their

problems – local rulers / warlordsDevelopment of feudalism

Homework

READ the package titled Feudalism in Europe

ANSWER the following questions:1. Define the following terms:

• Lord• Vassal• Fief

2. What is the feudal pyramid?3. Into what 3 groups are people classified?4. What are serfs?5. What are the obligations of a serf? Of his lord?6. What are the living conditions of a serf?