Early Middle AgesEarly Middle AgesAgainAgain

Part IIPart II

FeudalismFeudalism

Feudalism arose when local lords began to govern Feudalism arose when local lords began to govern their own lands in the absence of a strong central their own lands in the absence of a strong central government. government.

To get needed military help, weak kings granted To get needed military help, weak kings granted powerful lords the use of land from the royal powerful lords the use of land from the royal estates. estates.

Strong lords, with more land than they needed, Strong lords, with more land than they needed, granted the use of part of it to lesser lords in granted the use of part of it to lesser lords in return for military aid and other services. return for military aid and other services.

Each man who granted land was a lord: each man Each man who granted land was a lord: each man who held land in return for services was a vassal. who held land in return for services was a vassal.

The grant of land was called a fief. (Fife or Feef)The grant of land was called a fief. (Fife or Feef)

Feudalism & FiefsFeudalism & Fiefs

The Latin word for fief is feudum, from The Latin word for fief is feudum, from which come the word feudal. which come the word feudal.

In times the fief became hereditary. In times the fief became hereditary. Legal ownership passed from the lord to Legal ownership passed from the lord to

his son, while legal possession and use his son, while legal possession and use passed from the vassal to his son. passed from the vassal to his son. Only the oldest son inherited for a fief was Only the oldest son inherited for a fief was

never divided. never divided. Many lords held more than one fief, often Many lords held more than one fief, often

in widely scattered locations. in widely scattered locations.

The Feudal RelationshipThe Feudal Relationship

In order to understand the relationship In order to understand the relationship between lord and vassal, it is helpful to between lord and vassal, it is helpful to remember three things. remember three things. Only nobles could be vassals. Only nobles could be vassals.

It was an honorable relationship between legal It was an honorable relationship between legal equals. equals.

A man could be a vassal and a lord. A man could be a vassal and a lord. It was a very personal relationship. It was a very personal relationship.

Each man’s loyalties and obligations were owed only Each man’s loyalties and obligations were owed only to the lord immediately above him or to the vassal to the lord immediately above him or to the vassal below him.below him.

Obligations of Feudalism Obligations of Feudalism

The granting and holding of a fief was really a The granting and holding of a fief was really a contract between lord and vassal. contract between lord and vassal.

The lord granted the fief – that is, use of the The lord granted the fief – that is, use of the land. land.

He also guaranteed the vassal protection He also guaranteed the vassal protection and justice. and justice.

The obligations of a vassal were more The obligations of a vassal were more numerous. numerous. Promised the lord a certain number of fully Promised the lord a certain number of fully

equipped horsemen and foot soldiers. equipped horsemen and foot soldiers. Military service was usually limited to 40 days. Military service was usually limited to 40 days.

Other obligations involve aids to the lord.Other obligations involve aids to the lord.

Feudal Justice and Warfare Feudal Justice and Warfare

Feudal justice was quite different from Roman Feudal justice was quite different from Roman ideas of law. ideas of law.

Trial decisions were made in any one of three Trial decisions were made in any one of three days. days. Trial by battle (the winner is innocent) Trial by battle (the winner is innocent) Compurgation (oath-taking) Compurgation (oath-taking) Ordeal (tests used to determine innocence or guilt.) Ordeal (tests used to determine innocence or guilt.)

War was the usual rather than the unusual state War was the usual rather than the unusual state of the feudal world. of the feudal world. Most wars were between feudal lords or between lords Most wars were between feudal lords or between lords

and vassals. and vassals. Few wars were between kings, or kings fighting vassals.Few wars were between kings, or kings fighting vassals.

Armor and Weapons Armor and Weapons

In the early Middle Ages, the armor of the In the early Middle Ages, the armor of the fighting man was simple. fighting man was simple.

Soldiers wore an iron helmet and a shirt of chain mail. Soldiers wore an iron helmet and a shirt of chain mail.

He also carried a sword, a large shield, and He also carried a sword, a large shield, and a lance. a lance.

Armor became complicated in later Armor became complicated in later medieval times, with metal plates replacing medieval times, with metal plates replacing chain mail. chain mail. Because the armor was so heavy, a knight often Because the armor was so heavy, a knight often

had to be hauled or boosted onto his horse. had to be hauled or boosted onto his horse. The greatest sport of the feudal lord was The greatest sport of the feudal lord was

the tournament, or mock battle.the tournament, or mock battle.

““The Truce of God” The Truce of God”

For nobles, wars were fascinating affairs, For nobles, wars were fascinating affairs, but they brought suffering and famine to but they brought suffering and famine to the peasants. the peasants.

The Church tried to improve conditions by The Church tried to improve conditions by limiting private wars. limiting private wars. It issued decrees, known together as the Peace It issued decrees, known together as the Peace

of God, which set aside certain places, such as of God, which set aside certain places, such as churches, where fighting was not permitted. churches, where fighting was not permitted.

The Church also tried to get all lord to accept The Church also tried to get all lord to accept another decree, known as the Truce of God, another decree, known as the Truce of God, which forbade fighting on weekends and holy which forbade fighting on weekends and holy days. days.

Eventually, only 80 days a year was fighting allowed.Eventually, only 80 days a year was fighting allowed.

ChivalryChivalry

During the 1100’s, feudal society was changed by the During the 1100’s, feudal society was changed by the development of chivalry, a code of conduct for knights. development of chivalry, a code of conduct for knights. (brave, loyal, and true to their word)(brave, loyal, and true to their word)

To become a knight, a boy had to pass through two To become a knight, a boy had to pass through two preliminary stages of training supervised by a knight. preliminary stages of training supervised by a knight. At age 7, a boy became a page. At age 7, a boy became a page.

Learn knightly manners and begin his training. Learn knightly manners and begin his training. In his early teens, he became a squire. In his early teens, he became a squire.

Became a knight’s assistant. Became a knight’s assistant. After proving yourself as a squire you were worthy to After proving yourself as a squire you were worthy to

become a knight. become a knight. Knighted in a ceremony called a dubbing. Knighted in a ceremony called a dubbing.

Chivalry made a great improvement in the rough and crude Chivalry made a great improvement in the rough and crude manners of early feudal lords. manners of early feudal lords. The system was not perfect because the courtesy of the The system was not perfect because the courtesy of the

knights was only extended to those of noble class.knights was only extended to those of noble class.

The Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire

Territory of the Empire Territory of the Empire

In the year 500, the Roman Empire in the In the year 500, the Roman Empire in the east included Greece, and the northern east included Greece, and the northern Balkan peninsula, Asia Minor, Syria, Balkan peninsula, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine,Egypt, and Cyrenaica. Palestine,Egypt, and Cyrenaica.

Though also attacked by the by the Goths the Though also attacked by the by the Goths the Eastern empire was able to survive the Eastern empire was able to survive the attacks. attacks.

The Rome had collapsed in the West, the The Rome had collapsed in the West, the eastern empire was ready for a great eastern empire was ready for a great political, economic, intellectual, and artistic political, economic, intellectual, and artistic revival.revival.

Emperor JustinianEmperor Justinian

Emperor JustinianEmperor Justinian The leader of the revival was the Emperor The leader of the revival was the Emperor

Justinian, (527-65). Justinian, (527-65). Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire will Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire will

expand to dominate the majority of the expand to dominate the majority of the Mediterranean area. Mediterranean area.

Under Justinianthe Byzantines reached Under Justinianthe Byzantines reached their greatest glory. their greatest glory.

Great accomplishments were made in the Great accomplishments were made in the fields of: fields of: Government, religion, art, architecture, and Government, religion, art, architecture, and

law. law.

Strengths of the Empire Strengths of the Empire

The Byzantine Empire survived for a long The Byzantine Empire survived for a long time because its people were skilled at time because its people were skilled at adapting themselves to change. adapting themselves to change.

It also had other strengths: It also had other strengths: Political StrengthPolitical Strength – the government was – the government was

highly centralized, efficient bureaucracy, highly highly centralized, efficient bureaucracy, highly skilled diplomats and autocratic. skilled diplomats and autocratic.

Military StrengthMilitary Strength – good natural frontiers that – good natural frontiers that were easily defensible. They had excellent were easily defensible. They had excellent leadership and a good intelligence system. leadership and a good intelligence system.

Economic StrengthEconomic Strength – the wealth of the region – the wealth of the region was based on a sound mixture of agriculture, was based on a sound mixture of agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.manufacturing, and trade.

Religion Religion

The two branches began to drift The two branches began to drift apart and in 1054, the final split apart and in 1054, the final split came when the pope and patriarch at came when the pope and patriarch at Constantinople excommunicated Constantinople excommunicated each other. each other. The church in the west became the The church in the west became the

Catholic Church. Catholic Church. The church in the east became the The church in the east became the

Orthodox Church.Orthodox Church.

Orthodoxy Orthodoxy

The Orthodox faith was a source of The Orthodox faith was a source of both weakness and strength for the both weakness and strength for the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine Empire.

Conflicts over interpretation tended Conflicts over interpretation tended to divide and weaken the empire. to divide and weaken the empire.

However, the Church provided the However, the Church provided the basis for a kind of patriotism that basis for a kind of patriotism that strengthened the government and strengthened the government and the emperor was head of the Church the emperor was head of the Church without little question.without little question.

Byzantine Culture Byzantine Culture

The Byzantine Empire performed a great The Byzantine Empire performed a great service for civilization. service for civilization.

Its scholars did not produce much that was Its scholars did not produce much that was original, but they did preserve and pass on original, but they did preserve and pass on classical writings of Greece and Rome. classical writings of Greece and Rome.

For a thousand years, while the states of For a thousand years, while the states of Western Europe were struggling to Western Europe were struggling to develop a new way of life, Constantinople develop a new way of life, Constantinople was the center of a brilliant civilization. was the center of a brilliant civilization.

Through missionary work, the Byzantines Through missionary work, the Byzantines were also able to expand their culture were also able to expand their culture beyond their borders.beyond their borders.

Art Art

Byzantine art is noted for its use of color and Byzantine art is noted for its use of color and ornamentation. ornamentation.

Made beautiful tapestries and jewelry. Made beautiful tapestries and jewelry. At its best, Byzantine art glorified religion. At its best, Byzantine art glorified religion.

The walls and ceilings of churches were The walls and ceilings of churches were covered with murals. covered with murals.

Brightly colored mosaics covered the walls and Brightly colored mosaics covered the walls and floors also. floors also.

The subjects in their art style were stiff The subjects in their art style were stiff and unemotional.and unemotional.

                                      

Architecture Architecture

Architecture, especially religious architecture, Architecture, especially religious architecture, was the greatest of Byzantine arts. was the greatest of Byzantine arts.

The finest building built during this period The finest building built during this period was the Santa Sophia which was begun in was the Santa Sophia which was begun in 532. 532. The central feature of the Santa Sophia is its large The central feature of the Santa Sophia is its large

dome. dome. When Santa Sophia was completed in 537, one When Santa Sophia was completed in 537, one

Byzantine writer said that it was a church “the like Byzantine writer said that it was a church “the like of which had never been since Adam, nr ever will of which had never been since Adam, nr ever will be.”be.”

Law Law Of all the Byzantine contributions to civilization , the Of all the Byzantine contributions to civilization , the

greatest was probably the preservation of Roman greatest was probably the preservation of Roman law. law.

Emperor Justinian ordered his scholars to collect and Emperor Justinian ordered his scholars to collect and organize, all Roman law. organize, all Roman law. Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil law). Civil law).

It is made up of four parts: It is made up of four parts: The Code The Code

A collection of Roman laws. A collection of Roman laws. The Digest The Digest

Summary of the great legal experts of the Romans Summary of the great legal experts of the Romans The Institutes The Institutes

The basic principles of Roman law. The basic principles of Roman law. The Novels. The Novels.

Justinian's Code forms the basis of many modern Justinian's Code forms the basis of many modern European legal systems.European legal systems.

Decline of the Empire Decline of the Empire In the 1000s, the Seljuk Turks, originally a In the 1000s, the Seljuk Turks, originally a

nomadic people captured most of Asia Minor. nomadic people captured most of Asia Minor. The Byzantine Empire appealed to the West The Byzantine Empire appealed to the West

for aid in defending itself against the Turks. for aid in defending itself against the Turks. Emperor Alexius I asked for aid from the Emperor Alexius I asked for aid from the

West, which marked the beginnings of the West, which marked the beginnings of the Crusades. Crusades.

The First Crusade drove the Muslims out of The First Crusade drove the Muslims out of Palestine, but eventually the city will fall to Palestine, but eventually the city will fall to members of the Fourth Crusade. members of the Fourth Crusade.

Eventually, the Byzantine Empire will come Eventually, the Byzantine Empire will come to an end when Constantinople is captured to an end when Constantinople is captured in 1453, by they Ottoman Turks.in 1453, by they Ottoman Turks.