The Early Middle Ages
500 – 1000 CE
Created by Julia Marnell
& edited by Rebecca
Smith-Dominion High
School
What empire continued in the East as the Western Roman Empire fell?
What was happening in Western Europe?
Barbarians have invaded and conquered throughout the West
But one cultural characteristic
unified Western Europe.
What do you think it is?
Christianity
The Church became an
example of moral authority at
a time of chaos and
lawlessness
Power and Authority in Europe
from 500-1000 CE
•The Church was the most
powerful institution in the West
•It organized itself based on
the structure of the Roman Empire
•It united the people of Europe during
this difficult time
•It sought to revive the Roman Empire
The Pope was so powerful that he had
the power to anoint Emperors.
Pope Francis I
The Church
developed a
structure and
hierarchy based
on the
Roman Empire
Pope
Bishops
Local Priests
Medieval society was rooted in Christianity, the
classical heritage of Rome and the customs of the
Germanic tribes.
Germanic Customs
•The Germanic tribes had no written language- literacy
declined. Most people in Europe at this time could
neither read nor write.
•Germanic tribes were
ruled by family and loyal
friends rather than
governments.
•Monasteries preserved GrecoRoman cultural achievements.
The most important books, like
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, were
preserved in monasteries.
•Missionaries carried Christianity
and the Latin alphabet to Germanic
tribes
•Parish priests
served the social,
religious and
political needs
of the people.
Armenian Monastery
Monastery in Greece
Manasija Monastery, Serbia
Many historians refer to this
period in history as The Age of
Faith. Why? With your
neighbor, make a list of reasons
why.
The Germanic tribes continued to invade and conquer
Europe. The Frankish kingdom was established by Clovis
who was the first Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity.
•Frankish kings used military
power to expand their territory
•The alliance between Frankish
kings and the church reestablished
Roman culture in Western Europe
One King in particular would
unite all of the Frankish
kingdoms into an Empire – his
name was Charles the Great or
Charlemagne.
Age of CharlemagneCharlemagne revived the idea of
the Roman Empire:
•Charlemagne spread
Christianity and forced
conversion throughout
Europe
•Churches, roads
and schools were built
to unite the empire.
•Charlemagne expanded
education to all
On Christmas Day, 800 C.E., Charlemagne was
crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope before
cheering crowds.
After Charlemagne died, his kingdom was carved into three
kingdoms and then it fell apart. At the same time, invasions
from the north and west, left Europeans with no protection. It
was during this time that the system of Feudalism developed.
Groups that invaded Western Europe from
around 700-1000 C.E.:
•The Vikings came from Scandinavia
(Norway, Sweden and Denmark) and invaded
Along the coasts and down the rivers into
Russia
•Angles and Saxons came from Denmark and
Northern Germany and settled in England
•The Magyars came from Central Asia and
settled in Hungary
•Muslims invaded from North Africa but were
stopped by Charles Martel in 732 CE at the
battle of Tours.
Feudalism Rises
• A system of
landholding and
governing
• It was based on
an exchange of
protection for
other services
Lords give
knights/vassals
land (fief) in
exchange for
the knights’
promise
to defend the
lord and his
land
Feudal System
lords
Feudal Society
• Rigid (strict) class structure
Fief
Vassal
Serf
Land given to a Vassal
from a Lord
The person receiving the
fief
Peasants who work the
land
The Medieval Manor
Manors with castles
provided protection
from invaders,
reinforcing the feudal
system.
Invasions disrupted
trade, towns declined
and the feudal system
was strengthened.
Manors were selfcontained – long
distance trade would
not develop with the
east until after the
crusades in 1096 CE.
Image Sources:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm
ons/2/2d/Invasions_of_the_Roman_Empire_1.
png
http://www.ntnu.no/ub/formidl/utgivelser/til_
opplysning/to_nr9.php
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainme
nt/dining/reviews/blog/2009/09/local_priest_
on_throwdown_with.html
http://leffortcamerounais.typepad.com/photo
s/uncategorized/2007/04/26/bishops.gif
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Pictures
/pope-new2.jpg
http://www.vlib.us/medieval/graphics/0768.gif
http://www.christian-history.org/imagefiles/charlemagne-durer-wcpd.jpg
http://www.freewallpaperpic.com/wp/royal/3
1440/Sacre_de_Charlemagne.jpg
http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/hy/Ashl
ey/HY10502Web/hy105/Assets/Maps/Map__Viking_Islam__Magyar_Invasions_to_11C.JPG
Created by Julia MarnellDominion High School
http://churchistory.webs.com/Bodia
n%20Castle%202day2.bmp
http://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/
justin2.gif
http://www.kellscraft.com/Shipsand
Shipping/Images/P2275012.JPG
Iloveworldhistory.com