Why did the Middle Why did the Middle Ages Turn to Ages Turn to Feudalism?Feudalism?

What happened before, to set What happened before, to set the stage for feudalistic life?the stage for feudalistic life?

How The Middle Ages BeganHow The Middle Ages Began

Rome fell leaving Europe in disunity, Rome fell leaving Europe in disunity, conflict, and poverty and in the hands conflict, and poverty and in the hands of invadersof invaders

A new European civilization would A new European civilization would have to develop and a blended culture have to develop and a blended culture emerged: Greco-Roman, German, and emerged: Greco-Roman, German, and ChristianChristian

Role of Geography?Role of Geography? Why do you think this time frame is Why do you think this time frame is

called the middle ages?called the middle ages?

Groups Who Shaped Groups Who Shaped EuropeEurope

The Franks/French: The Franks/French: strongest German strongest German kingdom to emerge in kingdom to emerge in W. Europe; allied with W. Europe; allied with the powerful ally of the the powerful ally of the Christian Church of Christian Church of RomeRome

Muslim World: Overran Muslim World: Overran Christian lands and Christian lands and took control of Spaintook control of Spain– Led to the Battle of Tours Led to the Battle of Tours

in 732-the Christians in 732-the Christians wanted to push them outwanted to push them out

Charlemagne/Charles the Charlemagne/Charles the GreatGreat

Built a united empire across France, Built a united empire across France, Germany, and part of ItalyGermany, and part of Italy

Crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Pope Leo III after helping crush a rebellion Pope Leo III after helping crush a rebellion of Nobles in Rome.of Nobles in Rome.– Very significant b/c a Christian pope crowned a Very significant b/c a Christian pope crowned a

Germanic King as successor to Rome. Germanic King as successor to Rome. – By doing this there was revival of the Christian By doing this there was revival of the Christian

community and laid ground for future power community and laid ground for future power struggles between Rome and Germanystruggles between Rome and Germany

– This widened the split between W. and E. This widened the split between W. and E. Christian worlds.Christian worlds.

After CharlemagneAfter Charlemagne

When he died his empire soon fell tooWhen he died his empire soon fell too This was followed by 30 years of power This was followed by 30 years of power

strugglesstruggles His grandson soon divided the region into 3 His grandson soon divided the region into 3

partsparts C left a legacy of a strong and united C left a legacy of a strong and united

Christian kingdomChristian kingdom Wave of invasions ensued-all seeking to Wave of invasions ensued-all seeking to

pillage W. Europe: Muslims; Magyars; and pillage W. Europe: Muslims; Magyars; and VikingsVikings

MapMap

The Church and Medieval The Church and Medieval LifeLife Christian rituals and faith Christian rituals and faith

were part of everyday lifewere part of everyday life The Church was the The Church was the

social center as well as a social center as well as a place to worshipplace to worship– They took pride in it and They took pride in it and

tithed (gave 10% of tithed (gave 10% of income to the church-income to the church-Biblical) to keep it Biblical) to keep it beautiful.beautiful.

#1 objective was the #1 objective was the Church and the parish or Church and the parish or priest was the only priest was the only contact people had with contact people had with the church. the church. – He would practice He would practice

sacraments-sacred rites of sacraments-sacred rites of the church; major role in the church; major role in Catholic salvationCatholic salvation

Monks and NunsMonks and Nuns Monks and nuns were those men and Monks and nuns were those men and

women who withdrew from worldly life to women who withdrew from worldly life to devote their life to God within monasteries devote their life to God within monasteries and conventsand convents

Benedict: monk in 530 who organized the Benedict: monk in 530 who organized the Monte Cassino Monastery in S. Italy. He Monte Cassino Monastery in S. Italy. He also drew up a set of rules to regulate also drew up a set of rules to regulate monastic life: Benedictine Rule:monastic life: Benedictine Rule:

This “law” included 3 main vows:This “law” included 3 main vows:– Obedience to the abbot/abbessObedience to the abbot/abbess– PovertyPoverty– Chastity/PurityChastity/Purity

The Power of the Church The Power of the Church GrowsGrows

The church controlled spiritual life and The church controlled spiritual life and soon dominated secular lifesoon dominated secular life

Concept of Papal Supremacy developed Concept of Papal Supremacy developed (primarily the Catholic faith): Pope (primarily the Catholic faith): Pope considered representative of Christ and considered representative of Christ and therefore has authority over all secular therefore has authority over all secular rulers. rulers.

Moreover, this soon led to papal states-Moreover, this soon led to papal states-lands belonging to the pope. lands belonging to the pope.

Church and state were one.Church and state were one.

Religious AuthorityReligious Authority

Canon Law: Laws and courts belonging Canon Law: Laws and courts belonging to the medieval church; disobedience to the medieval church; disobedience led to a range of penalties.led to a range of penalties.

The most severe penalty was The most severe penalty was excommunication: not receiving excommunication: not receiving sacraments or a “Christian” burial sacraments or a “Christian” burial

When nobles opposed the church they When nobles opposed the church they received an interdict: an order received an interdict: an order excluding an entire town, region, or excluding an entire town, region, or kingdom kingdom

ReformsReforms As the Church’s wealth and power grew-its As the Church’s wealth and power grew-its

discipline weakeneddiscipline weakened Throughout the middle ages there became an Throughout the middle ages there became an

evident need for reformevident need for reform Francis of Assisi set up friars-monks who did not Francis of Assisi set up friars-monks who did not

live in monasteries but traveled…Why did this live in monasteries but traveled…Why did this help?help?

Cluniac Reforms: initiated by Abbot Berno of Cluniac Reforms: initiated by Abbot Berno of ClunyCluny– Revived Benedictine ruleRevived Benedictine rule– Nobles could no longer interfere with monastic affairsNobles could no longer interfere with monastic affairs– Brought devoted men into the ministryBrought devoted men into the ministry– 1073: Pope Gregory VII applied the reforms to the entire 1073: Pope Gregory VII applied the reforms to the entire

church as a whole. He then outlawed marriage for church as a whole. He then outlawed marriage for priests and simony (the selling of church offices)priests and simony (the selling of church offices)

Jews in EuropeJews in Europe Jewish communities Jewish communities

existed across Europe-existed across Europe-especially in Spain due especially in Spain due to its Islamic to its Islamic dominance.dominance.

Many Jews migrated to Many Jews migrated to GermanyGermany

Persecution of Jews Persecution of Jews developed b/c many developed b/c many felt they were directly felt they were directly linked with the death linked with the death of Jesusof Jesus

Soon anti-Semitism, Soon anti-Semitism, prejudice against Jews, prejudice against Jews, developeddeveloped