MEDIEVAL EUROPE

The Middle Ages

500AD- 1500AD

Historical Time Periods

• Historians divide recorded history into three time periods:
• Ancient Times (which we have been learning about)- about 4400BC- the fall of the Roman Empire in 476AD
• The Middle Ages or Medieval Times- From the fall of the Roman Empire to Columbus’ arrival in the Americas- in 1492.
• Modern Times- Starts with The Renaissance- 1500s

INTRODUCTION

• The Middle Ages fell between the time of the ancient Romans and the Renaissance.
• Medieval is the Latin word for Middle Ages
• By 500 AD, the western parts of the Roman Empire had begun to break away.
• It was a time of endless battles, bloodshed and struggles for power.
• During this period, Christianity began spreading throughout Europe.

INTRODUCTION

• During the Middle Ages there were few towns until the latter part of the age, and life centered around manors- large estates of lords.
• Travel was dangerous during this time because central governments were weak and there was little protection for those who moved from place to place.
• Power over the people was held mostly by the feudal lords, who were constantly warring among themselves.
• Caught in the middle of this warring were the common people- most of whom were poor farmers called serfs.
• Society was so unsettled that many people lived their entire lives on a manor -within a five mile radius of where they were born.

Life of a Serf

Feudal Lord and Lady checking on the serfs (peasants).

Back to Rome for a Minute…

• The Middle Ages began when nomadic groups called “barbarians” conquered Rome.
• They had little respect for learning and culture.
• They plundered (stole from) and set fires- and destroyed libraries and works of art.
• The central government collapsed, leaving roads and bridges to fall into ruin (to wear away).
• Organized society as Romans knew it, disappeared, and a period known as the Dark Ages began in Europe.
• This was the beginning of feudalism (an economic, social and political system).

FEUDALISM/ THE FEUDAL SYSTEM

• Although the Catholic Church had a lot of power, much of Europe was also ruled by kings (monarchs).
• Much of Europe was ruled by the Feudal System (Feudalism).
• This meant that there was a king who split up his land and gave that land to noblemen (upper class).
• The noblemen (Also called “lords”) gave loyalty to, and would serve the king.
• The noblemen gave parts of their land to peasants (poor people) for a price.
• The peasants (also called “serfs”) would work for the lords in return for protection and land, but gave a chunk of what they earned to the lords for taxes.
• The noblemen usually lived on manors- huge estates.

Feudal Society

King

Supposed to be all- powerful, but really as powerful as strongest noble.

Lords

Lords were very powerful. They included princes, dukes, earls, and counts.

Barons and Viscounts

Knights and

Lesse--\\8r Lords

Serfs and Peasants

The serfs and peasants were the common people. They worked the lord’s property and were part of the pconsidered roperty.

The Knights were the professional soldiers. Only the sons of noblemen could become Knights.

Barons and Viscounts were other members of nobility, along with lords, knights and lesser lords.

Vikings

• Several groups of invaders attacked Western Europe during the 9^th and 10^th centuries, but the most feared were the Vikings (also called Northmen).
• Vikings had long boats. They would go to an area and attack. They had axes and often killed everyone they came in contact with, including women and children.
• Their main goal was to steal valuables like gold and silver.
• After stealing everything they could, they burned everything and fled.
• The Viking invasions caused the central government in Europe to break down and this led to feudalism- *The only way people could protect themselves was to become part of a manor.

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The behavior of the Vikings was puzzling, because in their homeland of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) they were mostly democratic and freedom- loving.

*A small group of Vikings, led by Leif Ericson sailed to America around 1000 AD.

The Medieval Manor

• A manor was the estate of the lord.
• It consisted of all his land and the people he controlled.
• These people included his knights, and the serfs who worked the land.
• Some manors were very large and others were quite small.
• The focal point of the manor was the castle or the manor house of the lord and his family.
• The castles were built for protections from invaders.
• Many manors included a mill, craft shops, a carpenter, a blacksmith, and various other tradesmen. The manors were self-sufficient. Most even had a small church with a priest.
• The land included pastures, but most was used for farming.
• There were some smaller plots for serfs also, and the lord took his share of what was grown and raised there too, including pigs, chickens and livestock.
• The lord of the manor, his family and the knights did not perform any labor. The serfs worked long hours, in poor conditions to supply everyone with food.
• The only days serfs were allowed any rest were on Sundays and feast days.

Medieval Manor

TO DO

• Read “Legends and Myths” and answer questions.

TO DO

Answer the following questions on separate paper. Write the questions.

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1. What made a large manor self-sufficient?
2. Why weren’t the serf’s plots truly their own?

SERFS

• The word, “serf” comes from a Latin word meaning “slave.” This is not totally accurate… Serfs were often treated brutally, but they had more rights than slaves (ex. They owned some land and could not be bought and sold like slaves.)
• Serfs were considered part of the property of the manor and could not leave without permission.
• Most serfs were farmers. They spent most of their time working the landlord’s fields and were required to give the landlord a portion of the crops they grew.
• Most lived in run-down huts that had no windows or floors. They usually cooked outside so they wouldn’t burn down their thatched dwellings.
• Eggs and cheese were sometimes available, but serfs usually had only black bread and cabbage. They rarely ate meat.
• Serf’s lives improved a lot toward the end of the medieval period. After the Crusades, there was increased trade which brought a greater demand for agricultural products. So, serfs were treated better because the lords wanted more production from his land.
• Also, many serfs fled the manors and started new lives in many of the towns that were developing. *Any serf who ran away and hid safely in a town for a year and a day was declared by law to be a free person.
• There were also workers called freemen who lived on the manors and paid rent to a lord.

TO DO

Answer the following questions on separate paper. Write the questions.

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1. In what way were serfs “bound to the soil”?

2. Why were serfs treated better after the Crusades?
3. How was the life of a serf different from the life associated with a slave?

How Do You Become a Knight?

• Knights were the professional soldiers of the time and only sons of noblemen could become knights.
• When a noble was 7, he was sent to live in the castle or manor house of a great lord. He was taught courtly manners, how to hunt using hawks and falcons, and maybe even how to sing and play the lute. During this time, he was known as a PAGE.
• When a page reached the age of 14, he became a SQUIRE. As a squire a boy learned how to use a sword, a lance, and a battle-ax. He practiced jousting and looked after his master’s horses, polished his master’s armor and assisted his lord in battle.
• At the age of 21, a deserving squire became a KNIGHT at an elaborate ceremony. Kneeling before his lord or possibly even the king, the knight-to-be received an accolade– a tap on the shoulder with the flat side of a sword. The lord would pronounce, “I dub thee knight” and the squire was officially welcomed into the world of knighthood.
• Once knighted, a young man was expected to observe a special code of conduct called chivalry. The ruled of chivalry required that a knight swear to be honest, to be brave, and to display fairness in combat. He also promised to show respect to women and to the Church. *Some knights lived up to the code, but unfortunately many did not.

TO DO

• READ “Tournaments” and answer questions.
• READ “Castle Life” and answer questions.
• Based on what you have read, write a description of one aspect of life during the middle ages that you would have enjoyed most. 2-3 paragraphs.
• Share with your group.

FOOD AND CLOTHING

FOOD

• The food people ate during the Middle Ages depended on their wealth.
• Noble families ate a wider variety of foods. They ate meats such as; eel, boar, fish, swan, and peacock. They also ate various puddings and pastries.
• Food was served on slabs of thick bread called trenchers. Trenchers were used as plates and soaked up the juices of the food being eaten. Trenchers were sometimes given to the poor to eat after the meal.
• Table manners were not very refined in the Middle Ages: people did not use forks or spoons; they tossed bones and scraps on the floor for the dogs and cats to eat; and some people used napkins, but most wiped their hands on the tablecloth.

CLOTHING

• Serf’s clothing was very simple- shirts made of homespun cloth or animal skin. Women wore long tunics.
• The rich wore brightly colored clothing of silk, satin, and velvet. Men wore a cape with a cowl that could be pulled over the head for warmth. Ladies sometimes wore tall conical (cone-shaped) hats and wore flowers in their hair.
• Nobles took such pride in their clothing that laws were passed forbidding commoners from wearing anything similar to it.

Peasants- Men and women’s clothing

Upper class clothing

TO DO

• Read “Legends and Myths” and answer questions.

Spread of Christianity

• Other religions existed in Europe, but the Catholic Church (Christianity) ruled the lives of most people.
• The Catholic Church made laws, owned land and collected taxes.
• The Catholic Church was based in Rome and headed by the pope, but it also ruled from monasteries located in different parts of Europe.
• The Catholic Church had all the power and people who spoke out against the church, were called heretics, and could be burned alive at the stake.

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Control of the Catholic Church

• The Catholic Church ruled every part of life in medieval Europe.
• The Church decided who lived where and how they lived.
• It also controlled marriages and burials.

Charlemgne

TO DO

• How was the role of the Church in the Middle Ages different from the role of churches today?

The Powers of the Church

• The Church that was so important in the lives of medieval people.
• In 1054 the Church splint into the Roman Catholic Church (centered in Rome, Italy) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (centered in Constantinople- today Turkey).
• During the Middle Ages, the Church collected taxes, punished criminals, maintained hospitals, and set up schools.
• The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. There is also a group of bishops, called cardinals that serve as advisors to the Pope. Since the 11^th century, cardinals have selected a new pope when one dies.
• The Catholic Church had enormous power during the Middle Ages. Probably the most significant power was the power of excommunication. Any person who angered the Church authorities could be excommunicated, or CUT OFF from all Church services (if cut off- they had no chance for salvation).

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• Sometimes an entire nation (country) could be excommunicated– this was called an interdict. This meant no services could be held, no marriages, no christenings, no proper burials, etc… until the ruler gave in to the demands of the Pope.

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The Powers of the Church cont…

• Another power of the medieval Church was the “Truce of God.” In this, the Church forbid feudal warfare from Thursday evening until Monday morning, and on holidays.
• This was an attempt to bring some order to a chaotic age of feudal warfare.
• The Church also had economic power– the tithe.
• The tithe was a sum of money each person was required to pay to the Church. Anyone who did not pay the tithe risked excommunication.

• One of the strongest powers of the Church, was the Holy Inquisition.
• The Inquisition was a special court whose purpose was to seek out and punish heretics- people whose beliefs went against the teachings of the Church.
• The Inquisition sometimes used torture to get confessions and was known to burn people who refused to change their beliefs.

TO DO

• Read “The Role of Monasteries” and answer questions.
• Discuss your answers to #6 with the members of your group. You should have several answers for #6.

THE CRUSADES

• Starting in 1096, a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims (Mohammedans) began that would end feudalism and change European life forever. These were called the Crusades.
• In the 11^th century, invaders known as Seljuk Turks conquered the Holy Land (Palestine) and threatened to take Constantinople- the capital of the Eastern Orthodox Church- this was called the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine emperor asked Pope Urban II in Rome for military help. The Pope was sympathetic to the plea for help, especially since Christians make pilgrimages to the place of Jesus’ birth and were being persecuted by the Turks.
• Pope Urban II called for a crusade (holy war) to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims. The response was overwhelming. Lords and knights volunteered. Prisoners and serfs were granted freedom in return for military service. Even children played a part- there were two Children’s Crusades in 1212 (from France and Germany), but neither was successful.
• From 1096 to 1291 there were eight major Crusades. The crusaders failed to gain permanent control of Palestine, but they did succeed in gaining safe passage for Christians who went on pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

The Crusades

Results of the Crusades

• The two hundred year period of the Crusades had major effects on Western Europe.
• Feudalism declined, trade increased, and a revival of learning took place.
• With the weakening of feudalism, the power of kings increased.
• The increase of trade spurred economic growth- and the building of port cities along the Mediterranean Sea.
• As goods traveling to and from the Middle East passed through these cities, commerce and shipbuilding increased.
• Finally, Europeans were stimulated intellectually from their contact with Arab and Byzantine cultures: great cities, beautiful palaces, impressive buildings, libraries, scientific knowledge of the Arabs. The new ideas they brought back to Europe helped to bring about the Renaissance- a time of learning and new interest in the arts. The Renaissance began in the 13^th century.

TO DO

• Read “Health and Medicine” and answer questions.

The Black Death

• War, famine (starvation), and disease killed over half of Europe’s population between the years 1300 and 1450. The worst of these diseases was the Black Death, or bubonic plague.
• In just a few years, the Black Death wiped out at least one-fourth of the population of Western Europe.

Where did it come from?

• In 1347, the city of Kaffa on the Black Sea in Russia was under siege by the Mongols.
• After a year, many Mongol warriors began dying of the plague. In order to wipe out the population of Kaffa, the Mongol commander ordered his men to use a machine called a catapult to hurl all soldiers who had the disease over the city’s walls.
• Most of Kaffa’s people became infected and died. A few, however, survived and escaped. They unknowingly carried the disease to the ports of Genoa and Venice in what is now Italy. The plague spread from these ports to the rest of Europe.

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The Black Death

• The bubonic plague caused death quickly.
• The main symptom was black spots on the skin.
• Because they misunderstood the cause of the disease and believed that God was punishing them for their sins, many people fled cities and manors to more isolated areas which they thought were safer.
• Today, thanks to medical science, people know that the bubonic plague is transmitted to humans by fleas from infected rats. The disease can be brought under control through antibiotics, proper sanitation, and the elimination of vermin (rats).

Art and Architecture

• Art and architecture of the Middle Ages reflected the importance of religion.
• Paintings, sculptures, and buildings conveyed religious ideas.
• The Romanesque style of architecture used during the early Middle Ages imitated the architecture of ancient Rome. These buildings were massive, with heavy walls, thick columns, and rounded arches, there were very few windows and it was often very dark inside.
• The Gothic style came into use during the 12^th century. The Gothic style of architecture was very different. The Gothic cathedrals have pointed arches, tall spires, and many stained-glass windows. Examples of Gothic style architecture are the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and Westminster Abbey in London.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Westminster Abbey

The End of the Middle Ages

• Most historians agree that the Middle Ages ended around 1500.
• The old Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks.
• Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, which greatly broadened Europe’s horizons.
• The Crusades had caused feudalism to decline, trade to increase, and towns to appear.
• There was a rebirth in learning, called the Renaissance, which began in Italy and spread to other Western European nations.
• 1500 marks the start of what historians call the “Modern Era.”