Chapter 7: 500-1300
Section 1: The
Early Middle Ages

Collapse of the Roman Empire created a
decline in Western Europe
Invaders, trade declined, towns emptied,
very little classical learning
Cut off from advanced civilizations in
India, Middle East, & China
Referred to as the Dark Ages
~500-1500
Time between ancient and
modern times
Currently, it is the Medieval, or Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages
Germanic Tribes
Goths,
Vandals,
Saxons,
Franks
Farmers and
herders lived in
small
communities
Kings were
elected and
warriors served

 Clovis, King of the
Franks-he conquered
Gaul
486
 He converted to
Christianity- made an
ally in the Pope
 Islam, began in Arabia
 Took over Christian
lands from Palestine
to Spain
732
 Battle of Tours
 Christians triumphed
over the Muslims and
they no longer
advanced into
Charles Martel
Western Europe.
rallied Frankish
warriors
Age of Charlemagne
Charles Martel’s
grandson
768 became king of the
Franks
 CharlemagneCharles the Great Charlemagne was proclaimed Emperor
of the Romans for helping Pope Leo III
against rebellious nobles in Rome
 This upset the emperor in the Eastern
Roman Empire- and further divided the
two Christian worlds.

 Fought the Muslims,
Saxons, Avars, Slavs,
and Lombards
 Briefly united
Western Roman
Empire
 United Christian
Empire
The Early Middle Ages
Age of Charlemagne
 Charlemagne's Legacy
 Spread Christianity
throughout the land
and converted many
other groups.
 Officials to carry out
laws and keep
detailed records.
 Education
 Encouraged local
schools and wanted
Latin to be taught

 Extended Christian
empire
 Blended Germanic,
Roman, & Christian
traditions.
 Strong and efficient
governments.
The Early Middle Ages
Europe After Charlemagne
After he died in 814
his son took over,
Louis I
Louis I, sons battled
for power-the three
divided the empire
into three regions,
Treaty of Verdun
Invasions
Muslims continued
to threaten

 Vikings
 Farmers and sailors,
traders, and explorers
 Destructive raiders
Vikings
 Ended last
thread of
Charlemagne’s
unity
 Late 700s left
Scandinavia
 Looted &
burned
 Skilled raiders

11/3 Bell Ringer

Who was Charlemagne?
What was he known for?
Full sentences!
Section 2: Feudalism and the Manor Economy

Invasions by Vikings &
Muslims, Kings & Emperors too
weak to maintain law & order
But people still need protection
 decentralized structure
 Feudalism
Powerful local lords divided their
landholdings among lesser lords
called vassals who pledged loyalty &
service to greater lord
Land for
loyalty

= estate
Section 2: Feudalism and the Manor Economy
Knights
Left at age 7-to the
 Warfare was a way of
life
castle of his father’s
lord.
 Rival lords
Learned to ride, fight
Discipline and training
were harsh and strict
Fought on horsebackswords, axes, and lances
as weapons
http://www.history.com/topics/middleages/videos/heavy-cavalry-of-the-middleWore armor and carried
ages

Tournaments- Mock Battles

Pg.
220
 Castles
Feudalism and the Manor
Economy
 Stone high walls, towers, and
drawbridges over moats.
 Homes for the lords and fortresses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6C
bMSU8HX8

Feudalism and the Manor Economy
 Noblewomen

 Took over while the husband or father was away
 Some women did inherit land-most land went to the
firstborn son
 Women were sent for training in weaving, spinning, and
supervising servants
 Some learned to read and write
 Expected to have many children and serve her husband
 Chivalry
 Code of conduct
 Brave, Loyal, and true to their word

Manors Support Feudalism
 Manor- Lord’s estate Most included 1 or more villages & surrounding lands
 Lord, Peasants, and Serfs
Serfs, tied to the land
Peasants- worked farming the land, repairing
bridges and roads. Must ask permission to marry,
and they paid to use the grain mill.
In return, they had land to farm, protection from
war. They had food, housing, and land.


Feudalism and the Manor Economy
 The manor produced everything they needed
 Peasants didn’t have schooling
 Rarely left

Self-sufficient
 Cottages and huts are where the peasants lived. A church,
lord’s house, and grain mill were close by. Around the village
were strips of land where they farmed, then land for the
animals and hay.
 Life
 Men, women and children all worked harsh long hours.
 Black bread (Rye) with cabbage, turnips, and onions was a
common meal. Rarely did they have meat.
 Families kept their animals in their huts with them at night.
 Christmas and Easter were time to celebrate! A week off of
work, eating, dancing, and sports took place during this time.
Section 3: The Medieval Church
 Cathedrals

 The Church was incredibly
important to daily life. Priests
interpreted the Bible, guided
people on morale issues,
helped the sick and needy.
 Holidays and celebrations
happened at the Church
 Tithe or tax (1/10 of their
income) went to Church
 Churches started as small
wooden structures, then to
stone buildings
 Gothic style large ornate
buildings.

• Pointed arch
• Vaulting
• Ornamentation
• Ornate

The Medieval Church
Men and women are equal before God.
On Earth, women are weak and easily led into sin
Minimum age for marriage, harsh punishments to
men that harm women
Church tried to protect them

Monasteries and Convents
 Monks (Men) Nuns (Women)
Benedictine Rule
Obedience to the monastery
Poverty
World without schools & hospitals
Chastity (purity)
They educated, took care of the sick, and helped
others in any way they could.
The Medieval Church
 Church Power Grows

Popes claimed Papal Supremacy, authority over
all rulers.
Canon Law (churches own body of laws)
Governed wills, marriage, and morals.
Punishments
Excommunication-not allowed to receive
sacraments
Interdict-an entire town, region or kingdom
not being allowed to receive sacraments.
The Medieval Church

Corruption
Wealth began corrupting monks and nuns.
Priests that married, spent less time at the Church.
Early 900’s
Reform
Benedict Rule was imposed again.
Bishops and nobles had no part in church affairs (left
to the pope)
Friars
Traveling monks that preached to the poor.
The Medieval Church

Jews
Lived peacefully with Muslims and Christians for
hundreds of years.
Prejudice from Christians increased. Jews were
Late 1000s
blamed for illnesses or famine.
They were forbidden from owning land or having
jobs.
Persecution forced the Jews to moved eastward in
Eastern Europe, where they were welcomed.
Section 4: Economic Recovery Sparks Change

Agriculture Revolution
Iron Plows and harnesses for horses allowed for
larger fields
Peasants cleared more unused land and increased
the land in which to plant
New system of planting revived the soil and fed
more of the population.

Section 4: Economic Recovery Sparks Change

Revival of Trade and Travel
Chinese silks, gold jewelry, Asian spices
were all traded throughout Europe.
Towns first began as merchants set up
centers to make and sell goods.
As manor populations grew, lords
allowed peasants to buy their freedom
and move to towns.
Economic Recovery Sparks Change
A Commercial Revolution
 Money became more
important as trade
increased.
 Money allowed peasants to
sell their goods and services
rather than only work for
the lords.

 Capital, money for
investments.
banking
 Merchants joined in
partnerships for large
business ventures.
 Insurance allowed
merchants to protect their
shipments.
 Credit was used instead of
cash or gold coins, practice
Europeans took from the
Muslims.
 Tenant farmers emerged,
paying rent for farmland.
Economic Recovery Sparks Change
The Rise of Middle Class
Middle Class
Group of merchants and artisans-between
the nobles and peasants.

Nobles & clergy despise it
Economic Recovery Sparks Change
The Rise of Middle Class
 Guilds
 Merchants
 Passed laws and
taxes, chose what to
spend town money
on.
 Artisans
 Workers for each
occupation, limited
memberships. Only
members could work
in that trade.
 Regulated hours,
quality, and set
prices.
 Guild Members

 At 7 or 8, a child becomes
an apprentice, trainee
 Apprentice for 7 years, did
not get paid, but the guild
master provides housing
and training.
 Few became guild masters,
many were journeymen,
the salaried workers
 Women
 Same trade as husband or
father
 Ribbon making and
papermaking
Economic Recovery Sparks Change
Town and City Life
 Overcrowding
 So many people led
to people adding
more floors to their
houses.
 Churches with tall
steeples were in
almost every town
or city.
 No garbage pick up
or sewer systems.
Waste was thrown
into the streets.
 Towns were filthy,
smelly, noisy, and
crowded!

Perfect breeding ground for
disease
