The Middle Ages

When was the Middle Ages?

476 CE to the 1300s (Renaissance).

Who were the Romans?

They were spectacular engineers. Some of their inventions included concrete, the mile marker system, the colosseum, aqueducts, roads, schools, baths, irrigation, ETC. Unfortunately, they became corrupt from their mass wealth/power which caused them to be invaded by barbarians.

How is the Middle Ages described?

The time after ancient times and before the modern era.

What were the sections / time periods of the Middle Ages?

Early Middle Ages - (500 AD to 1000 AD), High Middle Ages - (1000 AD - 1300 AD), Late Middle Ages - (1300 AD - 1500 AD).

When was the fall of Rome?

476 CE/AD

What were the Germanic Tribes?

Small tribes held together by loyalty and family. They had no written languages and carved Europe into small kingdoms.

Who were the Franks?

They were the strongest kingdom amongst the Germanic tribes. The first king of the Franks was Clovis, he converted to Christianity and was also supported by the Church of Rome

What was the Battle of Tours?

The Battle of Tours was in 732. It was a fight between the Franks and Muslims. The Franks, led by Charles Martel, defeated the invading Umayyad Muslims, and ultimately stopped the advancement of Islam into Europe.

Who was Charlemagne?

Charles Martel's grandson, Charlemagne, was crowned Emperor of the Romans and the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire by Pople Leo III on Christmas day 800 CE after he helped put down a rebellion in Rome. He conquered Germany, and parts of Italy and also France. His conquests reunited much of the old Roman Empire. He also spread Christianity, became educated which was rare for a king, and spread education.

Who was Pope Leo III?

He crowned "Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans" 800 CE on Christmas day. This resulted in the Germans joining w/church, the Pope becoming a political leader, and further division of the Eastern and Western Roman Empire.

What were features of Charlamagne's government?

He introduced a standardized currency which assisted with the ease of trade, He also dictated that people brought into his realm should be baptized, and also ensured his empire was secure by sending out officials to check if his laws and decrees were being followed. Even sometimes going out firsthand to see for himself.

What are Scriptorias?

A school were monks copied ancient Roman texts.

What were some things that Charlemagne did to revive learning in Western Europe?

He had monks in scriptorias copy the writings from Rome, saving 90% of the old Roman papers. He revived Latin learning and built schools with a standardized curriculum. He also brought the best and brightest to work in his capital of Aachen, thus causing a flowering in art, literature, and architecture.

What is Feudalism?

A system of rule in which local lords divided their land among lesser lords, in exchange, these lesser lords, or vassals, pledged service and loyalty to the greater lord.

What is a fief?

Land granted by a lord that includes peasants, towns, or buildings.

Feudalism Triangle

Feudalism Trangle

What was the Manor System?

An economic arrangement between a lord and serfs. In this system the Lords provided housing, farmland, and protection. And the Serfs provided, care for the land, care for the animals, maintained estate, and a portion of their grain.

The 3 Field System

The 3 Field System involved rotation, a portion of the land must be laying fallow, and the use of clover on one of the fields. It's used to enhance the soil.

Who was King Henry II?

Unlike his son, King John of England, who is considered to be a cruel leader, Henry II was a very good one. He created grand juries to see if there was enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. He also enacted trial by jury and had another jury to handle arguments about land disputes (civil cases). He created a system of common laws and was seen as an intelligent and fair leader.

Who was King John of England?

King John did not follow his father's (King Henry II) ideals or even recent changes regarding crime and punishment. John would punish people without trials.

Why was King John of England excommunicated from the Church?

He raised taxes and angered the Pope on numerous occasions. Which resulted in his excommunication or being thrown out of the Catholic Church and heaven.

What did the nobles force King John to do in 1215?

In 1216, nobles rose up against their king and forced him to sign the Magna Carta or the great charter.

What was the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta was a document which increased the power of the nobility, which increased the power of the people of England. It limited the power of the king and placed him under the law. No longer could a king exploit their power. The document also addressed the people's issue with King John, taxation, and punishments without trial.

How did the Parliament come to be?

The first meetings of the English Parliament occurred in 1215 after the signing of the Magna Carta. Wealthy landowners were able to now serve as consultants and discuss governmental matters within the Great Council. In 1236 the Great Council was given the name Parliament. Although this brought in a level of representative government, the members were still chosen by the king. The 2 houses of Parliament were the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

How did the Magna Carta influence the rest of the world?

Numerous countries have been inspired by the Magna Carta and have used it when creating their own government and constitutions. In the United States, the Magna Carta was so highly regarded that we attained and placed one of the four surviving copies for display in the National Archives in Washington D.C.