Beginning of Medieval Europe (9, 12d, 12a)
Disruption of Trade Downfall of Cities Population Shifts Decline of Learning Loss of common language
Classical heritage of Rome Christian beliefs = Unified Europe Customs of Germanic tribes
Roman authority declined, while church authority grew
Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman Cultural achievements
Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic tribes
Pope anointed Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor – 800AD
Parish Priests served religious and social needs of the people
Europe in Chaos! We need PROTECTION! Fief – piece of land given from lord to his
vassal, called a manor Vassals – people who serve their lord Serfs – a.k.a. peasants, people who work
on fiefs Feudal obligations
Vassal – pay taxes to lord, military service
Lord – protect his vassal
Money goes up; Protection goes down.
Rigid Class structure Self-sufficient manors
Franks, Gallic tribe, emerge as a force in Western Europe
Pope crowned the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire = Power of the Church established in political life
Roman Cultural was revived
Son, Louis, was not a strong king
Louis had three sons Lothair Charles the Bald Louis the German
They fought each other Eventually divided Charlemagne's
kingdom into three halves at the Treaty of Verdun
Video Europe after the Fall of Rome
New Invasions Trouble Europe Vikings
Causes Overpopulation Lack of land at home Desire for free stuff
Used Long Boats to raid around Europe Terrorized villages along coast Also explored
Leif Ericson even reached North America around 1000 A.D.
Magyars and Muslims Contributed to chaos Grabbed people to sell as slaves
Video – Vikings Warriors
Horseback – Two inventions Saddle Stirrups
Knights Served their lords in return
for fiefs of land Time spent in training for battle
Knightly code of conduct Respect for Ladies Reverence to God Loyalty to sworn lord Glory in battle and tournaments
Knights must maintain character standards or be punished
Knights competed in tournaments to show off their skillz
Warfare was terrible p.329
Epic Poetry in Medieval times Idealize chivalry and Knighthood Praised heroic deeds and adventures
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Charlemagne's battles Song of Rolan p. 330
Troubadours Sang epic songs with a lute (simple guitar) Themes of Love and Loyalty
To lord To lady