5th-15th Centuries - Medieval Europe

Central Authority

When a one ruler/government holds power in a society

Decentralized Authority

When many rulers are in power and are not unified by one government in a society

Power Vacuum

When a powerful figure has lost absolute control and nobody has replaced them (follows central authority collapse)

Holy Roman Empire

Large group of territories in central Europe - also started in 800 by Charlemagne (lasting until 1806)

Clovis

Frankish king who converted to Christianity - he spread Christianity to those he conquered

Feudalism

A system of government based on landholding and mutual obligations

Charlemagne

1st emperor of the HRE, spread Christianity across Europe, revived Roman ideas

Treaty of Verdun

843 - Partitioning of the Carolingian empire between Charlemagne’s 3 grandsons and the ending of the civil war between them

Lord to Vassal obligation

Lord gave out land (fiefs) on his manor

Vassal to Lord obligation

Provided protection for Lord and his manor/workers with knights (military service) as well as loyalty

Serf to Lord obligation

Gave manual labor in exchange for protection in war and housing on their lord’s land

Monastery

Religious community of monks dedicated to devotion - monasteries became centers of economic activity and education

Convent

Religious community of nuns - less common than monasteries - also provided many services for the community

Secular

Non-religious, political

Tithe

A church tax - 10% of income

Clergy

Religious officials (ex: priests and bishops)

Church Hierarchy

Pope is head in Rome, Bishops supervise Priests (local church connection)

Saint Benedict

Monk that set ground rules for monasteries - The Rule of Saint Benedict

Papal Authority

Power of the Pope - can excommunicate, interdict and other secular powers

Leo III

Crowned Charlemagne emperor in 800 on Christmas Day

Gregory I

Pope who promoted Christendom and Pope’s political powers starting in 590 CE

Lay Investiture Controversy

Major conflict between Church and secular rulers about who had the power to appoint church officials (ex: bishops)

Concordat of Worms

1122 CE - Compromise between Church/secular rulers —> Church could appoint clergy members BUT emperor could veto

Chivalry

Expectations of what a knight must be:

• had to follow Code of Chivalry (set of complex moral codes)

• ideal knight had to be brave, loyal, polite, etc…

• had to fight in defense of 3 masters —> Feudal lord, Heavenly lord, chosen lady

Lord

Owner of land who gives out fiefs to vassals

Fief

Piece of land given out from Lord to vassals in exchange for protection from knights

Vassal

Receives land from Lord and has knights to protect the Lord and his manor - general term

Knight

Devoted life to war, serve Lord by fighting in battle, get fiefs - specific class - are often vassals

Franks

A group of united Germanic tribes —> overtime they converted to Catholic Christianity under Clovis I - this helped them unify the diverse population

Germanic Traditions

No written language (oral tradition), small communities, war

Vikings

Very powerful, ruthless and violent leaders on big ships — they raided the coastline and inland (and did it quickly) — also were traders, farmers, and explorers

Saddle and stirrup

Altered tech of warfare

Saddle: leather seat for warrior on horse

Stirrups: stabilized warrior on horseback — could use heavy weapons well

Battle of Tours

732 CE - When Charles Martel beat the Muslims in battle which prevented Islam from spreading into Western Europe, and this maintained Christianity in it

Manorialism

A social and economic system that structured around the feudal manor, was created through the manor system and involved mutual obligations.

Manor

Had farmland, lord’s house, villages -- where the Lord and peasants/serfs lived

Serfs

Peasants who were not allowed to leave their Lord’s estate (without Lord’s permission), had a hard working life, could not be traded

Self-sufficient

Very little to no trade - everything was needed on the manor

Class structure

Rigid (best to worst):

1. Pope

2. Kings

3. Nobles/Lords

4. Vassals and Knights

5. Serfs

Women’s social status

Had some power if they were noblewomen but otherwise were considered “less than” men and treated as objects