The Middle Ages

• 1. Vocabulary:

     • Lord: having power, authority; a master or ruler.

     • Serf: laborer bound to work on his lord's estate.

Introduction to the Middle Ages

• Description of the Dark Ages (or Middle Ages).

Recent Graded Topics

• Papers graded on:

  • Intro to Islam

  • Islamic Achievements

  • Byzantine Empire/Great Schism

The Fall of Rome

• The impact of the fall of the Roman Empire on Europe.

  • Pax Romana created stability, with loss of protection and rule of law after Rome's decline.

  • Resulted in danger on old Roman roads.

Feudalism Defined

• Quote from Æthelred’s Laws:

  • "Let every man know his lord and him whom he ought to serve..."

• Discusses the importance of lord-serve relationships and obligations.

William Langland's Perspective

• Quote from the 1360s:

  • Reflects a desire for honest labor over laziness of the lord.

Manorialism Overview

• Definition: The lord’s land (manor) was the basis for survival for peasants.

  • Lords provided housing, farmland, and protection.

  • Peasants worked the land and provided food in return.

Structure of Manorialism

• The manor:

  • Wealthy landowners lived on their manors; serfs lived in smaller homes on the land.

  • The manor was often isolated from the village by walls.

Visual Representation of Manorialism

• Diagram: Lord's Castle, Village, Woodland, Serfs Homes, Cultivated Land, Fallow Land.

Understanding Feudalism

• Breakdown of European society through Feudalism, predicated on land and loyalty:

  • Hierarchy:

    • Kings: Top of the structure, best treated.

    • Lords: Land-owning vassals to the king, fight for protection.

    • Knights: Warriors for lords, protect their land.

    • Serfs: Peasants at the bottom, working the land.

Feudalism Characteristics

• Land and loyalty as the basis of the system.

  • Lords provided land (fief) to knights for protection of their lands.

Charlemagne's Quote

• Reminder of duty to protect one’s lord and receive justice in return.

The Catholic Church

• Introduction to units on the Catholic Church's influence and structure during the Middle Ages.

The Origin of the Catholic Church

• Established in Rome after Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity.

• Christianity transitioned from illegal to the state religion in Rome.

Core Beliefs of Catholicism

• Belief in Jesus as savior and the Bible as God's word.

• The Pope as leader, representing authority over politics.

Church Finances and Society

• Tithes:

  • Financial contributions (10% of income) to the church.

• Education:

  • Children sent to church for education and meals, training to become priests.

Indulgences

• Selling of forgiveness for sins developed along with Protestantism in the 1500s.

Topic Review

• Analyzing what was learned about Manorialism and the Catholic Church.

The Magna Carta

• Historical significance, particularly in rights and liberties.

• Important legal documents emphasizing limitations on kings.

Gothic and Romanesque Architecture

• Definition and characteristics of Gothic style including pointed arches and stained glass.

• Contrast with Romanesque style known for semicircular arches.

The Crusades Overview

• Series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims, focusing on the control of Jerusalem.

• Pope Urban II's motivations: religious fervor, power, and wealth.

Jerusalem

• Central city significant to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Outcomes of the Crusades

• Recapture of Jerusalem and the eventual lost control by Christians after brief victories.

The Black Plague

• Description of the pandemic's origin and impact on Europe.

  • 75-200 million people affected, significant mortality rates.

Spread of the Plague

• Carried primarily by fleas on rats, spread through trade routes.

  • Open discussion on theories regarding the end of the plague.

Societal Changes Post-Plague

• Shift in the feudal system and rise of the Renaissance period.

Revisions and Reminder

• Importance of understanding various key terms and concepts relating to the Middle Ages, including Feudalism, Manorialism, and the Catholic Church.