BACKGROUND TO THE RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Gibbon’s Theory

1.Christians promoted weak values; humility, gentleness2. Christians worried about future life in heaven more than this life3. Peoples’ attention drawn away from society and towards the church4. Christianity caused Romans to lose pride

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Lot’s Theory

1. An abundance of slaves prevented economic development2. Romans purchased most goods from other countries3. Imported more than expected4. Invasion of Germans forced people to farm = no taxes

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Unstable Government Theory

1. Government weak and unstable2. Emperor had all the power. Weak emperors = empire suffered3. Choosing emperors led to divisions4. Attempts to overthrow the emperor; emperor could not control the military5. Increasing tax burden

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Environmental Theories

1. Lead poisoning from lead containers2. Plagues and diseases = couldn’t defend Rome3. Environmental degradation; soil conservation

THE DARK AGES

This period was called the Dark Ages because the art and learning of the Greek and Roman civilizations were lost.

Conditions in Europe were chaotic due to increasing migrations, invading warriors and a breakdown of trade.

In these conditions protection was the greatest need. As a result, a system called feudalism developed.

FEUDALISM

Kings gave land and weapons to their most important and loyal nobles. In return, the nobles pledged to supply him with soldiers in times of war and to help govern the country. They became the King’s vassals.

The nobles built fortresses to protect themselves and their families as well as their own loyal followers (knights).

These knights protected the nobles and were given land in return.

This land was worked/ farmed by peasants, known as villeins or serfs, who were obligated by law to live on and work the land until the landowner allowed them to leave.

FEUDALISM

The Feudal Pyramid Power in feudal system much like a pyramid,

with king at the top Kings served by nobles who are served by

knights; peasants at bottom Knights—horsemen—defend their lord’s land in

exchange for fiefs

FEUDALISM

9

LESSER NOBLES(KNIGHTS)

LABOR PROTECTION

POWERFULNOBLES

KING

SERFS AND FREEMEN

LAND ANDPROTECTION

LANDLOYALTY ANDSERVICE

LOYALTY ANDMILITARY SERVICE

FEUDALISM Social Classes Are Well Defined

Medieval feudal system classifies people into three social groups those who fight: nobles and knights those who pray: monks, nuns, leaders of the Church those who work: peasants

Social class is usually inherited; majority of people are peasants

Most peasants are serfs—people lawfully bound to place of birth

Serfs aren’t slaves, but what they produce belongs to their lord

FEUDALISM

FEUDALISM

Manors: The Economic Side of FeudalismA Self-Contained World

Medieval manors include lord’s house, church, workshops, village

Manors cover a few square miles of land, are largely self-sufficient

FEUDALISM The Harshness of Manor Life

Peasants pay taxes to use mill and bakery; pay a tithe to priest

Tithe—a church tax—is equal to one-tenth of a peasant’s income

Serfs live in crowded cottages with dirt floors, straw for beds

Daily grind of raising crops, livestock; feeding and clothing family

Poor diet, illness, malnutrition make life expectancy 35 years

Serfs generally accept their lives as part of God’s plan

FEUDALISM

Feudal lords in England didn’t want to lose power to the king, so they banded together and presented King John with the Magna Carta

A List of 63 demands that the king eventually agreed to

King must get permission to raise taxes King must return all lands he had unlawfully

seized King could not imprison people without a trial

and could not deny or delay justice

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

Almost all nobles were knights Training began at age 7, as a page, under the

guidance of the lady of the manor Became squires at age 15 and were trained

by other knights Those deemed worthy were “dubbed”

knights

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

Main purpose was for defense Motte and Bailey castles: motte was a hill

where the keep was built and the bailey housed the stables, storage and soldiers’ barracks (wooden) http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=KwF8ScdOgQ0 Concentric castles: stone castles with inner

and outer walls and a tower at each corner Drawbridge and a portcullis (a gate with thick

metal bars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=5BzgmQvbAvo

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

DefenseSiege towersCatapults like the trebuchet and mangonelTunnels under towersMurder holesGunpowder and cannons were introduced

to Europe in the 1300’s and made castles obsolete

THE GROWTH OF TOWNS

Towns were within the castle walls at first, then expanded outside of the walls

Craftspeople lived and worked there Farmers sold their excess food at town

markets Unpaved streets, no sewers or drains

People threw waste and garbage into the streets Danger of disease spread quickly as a result

THE GROWTH OF TOWNS

Danger of fire because wooden buildings were built close together

Could be a dangerous place to live because the unemployed flocked there for opportunities

There were more opportunities and people could hide among the growing populations

Cities developed as the populations increased

THE GROWTH OF TOWNS

GUILDS

The first unions: created to protect workers and improve working conditions

Every craft had its own guild Non-members were not allowed to work in

that craft Both women and men could be members When a woman’s husband died, she inherited

his position in the guild

GUILDS

GUILDS

Purposes: Set the terms of apprenticeship Set the standards of quality Set prices of goods and services Helped members to replace stolen tools Provided aid to sick members as well as benefits

to members widows with families

GUILDS

DAILY LIFE

Daily life in the Middle ages was dictated by wealth, power and status and the feudal system.

Everything was a source of privilege for the nobles. The high ranking nobles lived in castles with their knights, ladies and retinues. Others enjoyed their daily life on their manors.

The peasants, including serfs, freeman and villeins spent their daily life on a manor or village.

DAILY LIFE - NOBLES The daily life of nobles started at dawn Mass would be heard and prayers would be made The first meal of the day was breakfast Lords and nobles would attend to business matters in relation to his land. Reports

would be heard regarding estate crops, harvests and supplies. Finances - rents, taxes, customs and dues. The lord would also be expected to exercise his judicial powers over his vassals and peasants

Complaints and disputes regarding tenants would be settled, permission to marry etc. The daily life of the nobles would include political discussions and decisions As the Medieval period progressed the culture changed becoming more refined and

elegant. Time was spent on the arts - poetry, music etc. Weapon practise Mid morning prayers and a meal In the afternoon the daily life of nobles turned to hunting, hawking or inspecting the

estate Evening prayer and then supper in the Hall of the Castle or Manor House After supper there might be some entertainment - music, dancing, jugglers, acrobats,

jesters, etc. The time for bed was dictated by the time the Lord or Noble retired Bedtime prayers

DAILY LIFE - PEASANTS The daily life of a peasant started at started in the summer as early as 3am A peasant would start with breakfast, usually of pottage Work in the fields or on the land started by dawn and the daily life of a

peasant included the following common tasks Reaping - To cut crops for harvest with a scythe, sickle, or reaper. Sowing - the process of planting seeds Ploughing - To break and turn over earth with a plough to form a furrow Binding and Thatching Haymaking - cutting grass and curing it for hay. Threshing - To beat the stems and husks of plants to separate the grains or

seeds from the straw. Hedging - creating boundaries Outside work finished at dusk, working hours were therefore longer during

the summer months Peasants made some of their own tools and utensils using wood, leather

and the horns from cattle Women generally ate when her husband and children had finished and had

little leisure time

THE BLACK DEATH

Also called the Great Plague Wiped out about 1/3 of the population of Europe

in the mid-1300’s (about 20 million people) Caused by bacteria passed to humans when

fleas, carrying infected blood from rats, bit people No known cure Many people believed it was a punishment from

God Eventually died out, but reappeared 3 more times

over the next 3 centuries Improvements in sanitary conditions and

medicine helped to end the threat Helped to end Feudalism

RELIGION

Only accepted religion was Christianity, at this time only called Catholicism

Life for most peasants, had few rewards, therefore, religion offered a sense of purpose and hope for a better life in heaven

Priests and other clergy carried great power and authority – only they could read and interpret the meaning in the Bible – and they amassed great wealth (tithe)

People also believed in magic, spirits and witches(this was left over from the previous pagan religions)

RELIGION

Church Laws The church punished people who did not believe

in or follow church practices and beliefs Excommunication – The worst punishment was

banishment from the church (church was also their social life) Others could not associate with them Could not go to mass or confession Their kids couldn’t be baptized They couldn’t have final religious rites or be buried in

the church grave yard (this = going to hell)

LAW AND JUSTICE Two of the most common ways to settle a

dispute were by compurgation or by ordeal Compurgation – eleven people would swear

an oath for the accused’s innocence. However, if the accuser produced eleven people of higher rank to swear to the accused’s guilt, he/she would be found guilty

Ordeal – Usually by fire, water or combat Fire involved burning the flesh and, if it didn’t heal,

the person was guilty Combat was the predecessor of the dual Water involved boiling water http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTdDN_MRe64

THE CRUSADES Muslim armies from the Middle East spread the

Islamic faith by taking over other peoples Muslims invaded Spain in 711 AD and reigned

for 700 years Towards the end of the 11th century, Muslims

were expanding farther into the Eastern Roman Empire and they eventually prevented pilgrims from reaching their holy shrines

Pope Urban II called for a crusade to force the Muslims out of the Holy Lands (1095-1099 AD)

Priests encouraged their parishioners to join and 1000’s of noblemen left home to follow “the will of God”

THE CRUSADES

In time, the motive for joining the Crusades was not purely religious.

This was an opportunity for young men, especially those who were not the first born and would not inherit their family’s lands, to get rich and have an adventure at the same time

Several crusades between 1095-1300 AD In 1192, Richard the Lionhearted, King of

England, negotiated peace with the Muslims that allowed Christians safe passage to the Holy Land

The crusades also had an effect on feudalism

LEGACY OF THE MIDDLE AGES

Many important developments and inventions from the Middle Ages Knowledge and goods from the East (Arabic

numerals, printing, fabrics, carpets, spices, medical innovations, new approaches to architecture

Important trade routes due to the demand for spices from China and India

New military weapons and tactics The growth of towns The establishment of guilds Tournaments of Knights as sporting events Census taking The spread of Christianity and Islam

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.rcs.k12.va.us www.owasso.k12.ok.us http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/daily-life-in-

the-middle-ages.htm Kahn, C., Osborne, K., McCulloch, M., Lee, N.,

& Einarson, J., World History: Societies of the Past, Winnipeg: Portage & Main Press, 2005.