The Middle Ages
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.