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Wasaasasassasaassaestern Wewaadcfvgbhknjlm, Europe 500 - 1300 CE
Wasaasasassasaassaestern Wewaadcfvgbhknjlm, Europe 500 - 1300 CE
500 CE – 1500 CE
Edited by Mr. Barkhau
Shamelessly stolen from:
http://conaapwh.weebly.com/class-powerpoints.html
MEDIEVAL EUROPE: PERIODIZATION
• Early Middle Ages: 500 – 1000 CE
• High Middle Ages: 1000 – 1250 CE
• Late Middle Ages: 1250 – 1500 CE
CHANGE IN WESTERN EUROPE
• By the year 1000 = invasions from
outsiders (Vikings, Muslims, Magyars)
had stopped
• Either stopped or were absorbed
into western European society
• Result = peace and stability = things
took a positive turn in Western Europe
• At the same time = general climate
change warmer conditions = better
agriculture
POLITICAL LIFE IN WESTERN EUROPE
• Western Europe = now a
series of regional kingdoms
instead of one united
empire
• Many Germanic rulers were
influenced by and
embraced Roman culture
• Many leaders wanted to
recreate that unity that
existed with the Roman
Empire
CHARLEMAGNE
• Ruled the Carolingian
Empire from 768 to 814 CE
• Set up an imperial
bureaucracy
• Standardized weights and
measures
• Acted like an old imperial
ruler
• Christmas Day of 800 CE =
he was crowned the “new
Roman emperor” by the
Pope
CHARLEMAGNE
• His empire was divided
among his sons after his
death
• Attempt at unity =
unsuccessful
OTTO I OF SAXONY
• Created the Holy Roman
Empire (mostly Germany and
its surrounding areas)
• Ruled from 936 to 973
• Tried to regain unity in
Western Europe just like
Charlemagne
• Also received title of emperor
from the Pope
• Unsuccessful
A NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM
• These new kingdoms = created a highly fragmented and
decentralized society
• Europe full of thousands of independent and isolated manors
(estates)
• Gave rise to a new system in Europe = feudalism = a political,
economic, and social system based on loyalty and military
service
A NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM
• Power = exercised by monarchs
and elite landowning lords
• Lesser lords and knights swore
allegiance to greater lords and
kings
• Lesser lords = vassals =
people who entered into a
mutual obligation to a higher
lord or monarch
• Gave them: military protection
and support
• In return they got: land or fiefs
• Fiefs = estates that came with
serfs to work the land
PROBLEMS WITH FEUDALISM
• Possible to have allegiances to more than one person
• System relied on loyalty of subjects
• No strong central government
• King must ask his lords for knights in time of war.
• King must ask his lords for money to pay for things.
• Lords hold most of the power.
• Lords constantly fighting among themselves.
LIFE OF THE NOBILITY
• Nobility consisted of lords, ladies, and knights
• A lord had almost total authority over his fief
• A lady had few, if any, rights
• For entertainment, tournaments were held
• Mock battles between knights
• Other entertainment = archery, big dinners, minstrels, and
singers
BECOMING A KNIGHT…
• The 4th crusade sent Knights back to the Holy Land, however they never
made it to Jerusalem.
• Instead attacked the city of Constantinople because they were in
desperate need of supplies and funds.
Cambridge in England
MEDIEVAL UNIVERSITIES
REASON AND FAITH
• At these universities is where
scholars and students began to
examine faith and religion using
reason and logic
• Example of a student’s question =
Can you prove that God exists
based solely on reason, without
the Bible or other source of divine
revelation?
REASON AND FAITH
• However, many scholars and students believed that reason
could coexist with faith
• Logic, philosophy, and rationality would operate in service to
Christ
DESIRE FOR ANCIENT GREEK TEXTS
• Focus on reason and rationality =
led scholars to seek out original
Greek texts
• Especially those of Aristotle
his writings became the basis
for university education
• Many translated from Greek and
Arabic into Latin
BIRTH OF THE RENAISSANCE
• The Renaissance will be caused by:
• An increased interest in acquiring new goods from Asia, Africa and the
Middle East.
• Demand for things such as silks, spices, ivory and pearls. This created a
demand for trade with the Middle East.
• Increased trade = Increased income for Italian merchants
• Sophisticated Muslim culture, arts and philosophy were introduced to the
Europeans