Beginning of the Middle Ages

The Roman Empire:

  • Political Setup became the blueprint for our Government in the U.S.

  • Most substantial Military strength of their time

  • Controlled 57 million people, the entire Mediterranean area, united everyone by one language

  • Significant successes in Roads/ Highways, aqueducts, and arches

  • Created a robust law system, our calendar system

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A Loss of Order:

  • During the Fifth century, the Roman Empire was taken over by a wave of different Germanic tribes
  • People fled the cities to escape the Germans
  • Their economy fell apart as people stopped trading
  • Learning completely disappeared
  • Only priests knew how to read and the Greek Language (written word) was almost lost
  • The Latin Language mixed with the Germanic languages; it became the dialects of French and Spanish (No more common language)
  • The one point of stability: the Church

 

The German Way:

  • The Romans had lived by the ideas of loyalty to public officials and the written law

  • The Germans cared about family lies and personal loyalty

  • Lived by unwritten rules and traditions

  • The practice was made by local chiefs who had a band of loyal warriors

  • People were loyal to someone they knew, not a significant government

  • Germanic Tribe, Franks take over modern-day France by King Clovis

  • King Clovis accepted Christianity and led several military campaigns against other Germanic Tribes with the support of the Church

  • First Connection in Europe between the Church and Government

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The Invasions of Europe:

  • The Vikings: Came on boats from Scandinavia, called “Norsemen”, worshipped warlike gods, carried out raids quickly, went before locals defended themselves, raided communities for their goods, and were also known for trading and exploring, 1000 weather improved and many accepted Christianity, raids came to an end

  • The Magyars: Nomadic People from the east (Hungary), who came on horses starting around the 800s, did not settle land but took captives as slaves

  • The Muslims: Came through the South (North Africa), Began in the 600- 700s intending to settle Europe, and later began plundering communities

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Feudalism:

  • Rulers and warriors agreed to split land to create a system of protection
  • In exchange for military protection, lords granted land to vassals
  • Knights were lower below vassals but also given land in exchange for fighting
  • Serfs were peasant workers who could not leave the land

The Age of Chivalry:

  • The Creation of Knights: Created by Charles Martel based on the Muslim Style of Fighting, Knights who protected Lords were given extra land that added to their income (they had to pay for their equipment), served for 40 days a year, the rest of time was spent in training.

  • Code of Chivalry: Original code focused on a knight’s devotion- His Earthly Lord, His Heavenly Lord, His Chosen Lady, Protect the Weak and Poor, Be Loyal, Brave, Courteous (EX- The Song of Roland)

  • Steps to Knighthood: AGE 7- Sent to train at another castle, AGE 14- Squire: Servant to a Knight, AGE 21- Full Knight

  • Most then spent the new few years training in tournaments with cheering fans

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Noble Women-

  • Mostly powerless but could act in a man’s place if he was at war

  • Most were either doomed to live at home or in a convent

  • Did receive land as part of her dowry, could keep this if her husband died

  • Noble women were sent to learn skills in another manner (like young men)

  • Expected to know how to spin, weave, supervise servants

  • The job of all women is to have many kids just in case one dies. The main goal was to produce a male heir

  • WHAT ENCOURAGED THESE STEREOTYPES: The poetry and songs of the time glorified the idea of being a knight- the epic battles, heroic actions, undying love stories

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The Power of the Church-

  • Clergy: Bishops and Priests under the Pope’s authority
  • Bishops: Supervised priests, and settled disputes over the church’s teachings
  • Most people only interacted with local priests
  • Feudalism created division among people, but religion unified them and offered stability
  • Life was hard, but everyone could follow the path to salvation
  • The sacraments (important religious ceremonies) would always be performed and holidays were always celebrated
  • All were subjected to Canon Law, which ruled on religious practices in a court of the church
  • Excommunication: Banished from the church, used to keep rulers in line
  • Interdict: Over an entire area, no sacraments or religious ceremonies can be performed
  • Trial by Ordeal: Trial by Cold Water, Boiling Water, Hot Iron, Cake/ Communion