MIDDLE AGES OVERVIEW

LEARNING TARGETS

Learning Target: I will understand the people, culture, and events of the Middle Ages in Europe.

Success Criteria: I can answer all of the Essential Questions for the Middle Ages Overview presentation.

FEUDALISM AND MANORIALISM

The Middle Ages in Europe was a dangerous time because of a lack of central government and the constant threat of war and famine.

The feudal system was the solution to this problem. The rich offered the poor protection in exchange for work (primarily military service and farming the land). The lack of central government caused the rich to control isolated pieces of land that they ruled however they saw fit, which was the creation of kingdoms.

FEUDALISM AND MANORIALISM

The feudal system was made up of the pope, kings, lords, vassals/knights, peasants, and serfs.

The pope was the head of the church and had the most power.

Kings controlled several manors, making up their kingdoms.

Lords controlled a single manor and answered the king that ruled over that manor.

Vassals/knights provided military service for the lord of a manor. They also ran the manor on a daily basis. They made sure the peasants and serfs did their work.

Peasants were free people that worked the land of a manor in exchange for protection, a place to live, and a portion of land to work for their families.

Serfs were slaves owned by a lord.

FEUDALISM AND MAORIALISM

Because the manors were isolated from others, they were forced to be self-sufficient instead of relying on trade to get the items they needed to survive. They grew their own food, made their own shelter and clothes, etc.

KNIGHTHOOD AND THE CRUSADES

When knights were not engaged in military service, and were not a vassal for a manor, they tended to cause problems for others. They were very aggressive and started fights that often led to injury and death of innocent people.

To stop this, the code of chivalry was created. Knights were to use their training to protect the weak. If they did not follow the code of chivalry, they were stripped of their knighthood and publicly humiliated.

There were three stages of knighthood you had to pass to be a knight: page, squire, and knight. They started their training at age 7.

KNIGHTHOOD AND THE CRUSADES

The primary religion in Europe during the Middle Ages was Christianity. Christians were constantly fighting with the Muslims for control of Jerusalem, which was a holy city to both religions.

The Crusades were wars started by Pope Urban II to take Jerusalem back from the Muslims.

There were four major Crusades, none of which were very successful. Most kings and lords lost most of their wealth trying to fight in the Crusades. They were ultimately what led to the end of feudalism and manorialism.

TOWNS, GUILDS, AND THE PLAGUE

As manors fell and people returned from the Crusades, towns began to develop.

These were places free from the control of lords and vassals. People were able to attain their own wealth without having to give a portion or all of it to their lord.

This led to the creation of the middle class.

TOWNS, GUILDS, AND THE PLAGUE

As people developed skills, crafts, and trade businesses, they needed regulation to keep the market from crashing and to keep the quality of goods high.

Guilds determined the quality standards of goods and the prices of those goods.

There were three stages to enter a guild: apprentice, journeyman, and master.

TOWNS, GUILDS, AND THE PLAGUE

Towns developed along trade routes as people came back from the Crusades.

Trade, close quarters, increased population, and unsanitary conditions in towns all led to the spread of the plague.

Within three years, one-third of the population had died. People did not understand what caused the plague, how it was spread, or how to treat it. The high volume of bodies prevented burial and the bodies were burned. This is ultimately what ended the plague because it killed the fleas that were spreading the majority of the disease.

KINGS, POPES, AND THE MAGNA CARTA

Kings retained power throughout the development of towns by offering towns protection in return for taxes.

Some kings became corrupt. Others believed they had more power than the pope. The pope exercised power over kings by excommunicating them, meaning they took away the king’s right to go to heaven. When a king was excommunicated, they were shunned by the people and therefore lost their power and often their wealth.

KINGS, POPES, AND THE MAGNA CARTA

King John (think Robin Hood) was one of the kings that abused his power.

A group of nobles got together, met with King John in a field, and convinced him to sign the Magna Carta, a document limiting the power of kings.

Afterward, King John tried to deny the legitimacy of the Magna Carta, claiming he was kidnapped and forced to sign the document. This was not successful and the document became law.

The Magna Carta was the basis for the laws of the British Parliament when it was formed, which was the basis of our laws in the United States.

THE RENAISSANCE AND WESTERN EXPLORATION

The end of the Crusades, the development of towns, and the creation of the Magna Carta brought Europe out of the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages.

The next era was a time of enlightenment, art, and learning known as the Renaissance. During the Middle Ages, most people could not read or write. They were purely living in survival mode. As things stabilized with towns and laws, people were now able to focus on bettering themselves through learning, which led to a surge of artistic creation.

THE RENAISSANCE AND WESTERN EXPLORATION

As people in Europe thrived during the Renaissance, kings and queens wanted to extend their control. This led to sending explorers to see the world. The Crusades made it so Europeans knew what was to the east, but they wanted to know if there was anything to the west. This is what is known as Western Exploration.

Famous western explorers included Magellan and Christopher Columbus.