chapter8 part 2- charlemagne & vikings & feudalism
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The Making of Medieval Europe
Chapter 8 Part 2
EMPIRE OF CHARLEMAGNE
Conquests
• Frankish empire at its greatest–Most land under
1 ruler since Roman Empire
• Laid foundations for modern day Europe
• Defeated Saxons
Coronation of Charlemagne
• Proclaimed “Roman Emperor” –Wanted to restore the glory of
the Roman Empire– Crowned by the pope• Did Charlemagne know or not? • Both benefitted from this
coronation– Pope got protection– Charlemagne got title of Holy
Roman Emperor
Revival of Learning
• Charlemagne loved learning and promoted education
• Aachen = center of learning with best scholars in Europe– Alcuin- most distinguished scholar • From York, England
• * What other ruler was taught by best scholar in the land?
Who had controlled learning before?
What Does This Foreshadow?
Learning in the Church
• Charlemagne encouraged clergy to study Bible more
• Renewed interest in Bible and classical texts
• * Preservation of them• Monasteries = print houses, libraries – Study, copy, preserve ancient texts– Carolingian miniscule was developed out
of need for smaller more compact print• Shortage of material to write on
4th to 9th century AD Writing
8th to 12th century AD Carolingian Miniscule
Scriptorium- a room devoted to the hand-
lettered copying of
manuscripts
Breakup of Charlemagne Empire
• Trouble within– Charlemagne sons split
empire into 3 areas– What countries come
from each area?
• Charlemagne descendants = weak leaders– Louis the Stammerer– Charles the Fat– Louis the Child– Charles the Simple
Invasions from Outside
• 9th- 10th centuries foreign invaders– Muslims - North Africa– Magyars- South Eastern
Europe (Hungarians)– Vikings (Norsemen)-
North Europe• Norway, Sweden,
Denmark
– Attacked and destroyed villages and churches
– Set them on fire– Motivated people to start
building from stone
Early Medieval Castle
Reasons for Viking Invasions
1. Little arable land in Scandinavian Countries – Primogeniture custom- land
handed down to first born son (younger sons without land)
2. Greed3. Charlemagne subdued all
Viking’s enemies, leaving them free to attack Europe
Feudalism
• 9th to 13th centuries (800s- 1200s)• Powerful nobles replaced weak
ineffective kings– Noble - peasants protection– Peasants worked noble– Provided relative order in this chaotic time– King granted land to nobles in exchange for
military service (fief)• Noble DID NOT own the land, just kept it as
payment for his services
Relationships
• Feudalism based on = relation between lord and vassal– Homage = ceremony by which becomes
vassal in front of many witnesses• Speak Oath • Clasp hands • Kiss
– Lord give stick or some dirt symbolizes giving him the land (investiture)
Obligations
Lord• Gives land to vassal• Gives protection to
vassal• Gives justice to vassal
Vassal• Military service to lord• Financial “aid” on
special occasions (knighthoods, marriages)
• Gives advice to lord• Pay ransom if lord is
captured• Could be vassal to
more than one lord (complicates life)
Life of NobilityHome
Courthouse & Jail
Treasury
Armory
Court
Seat of Government
Damp and cold
Dark and gloomy
Castles
• Primary function = defense• Lord’s responsibility to protect
inhabitants of his land– Peasants fled to castle when danger came
near
• 10th century castle (Disney Castle)– High stone walls–Moats– Towering battlements– Drawbridges
Disney Castles modeled after Medieval castles
Knighthood
• Early Middle Ages- open to anyone who can afford it– Later- reserved for Nobility
• Training start at age 7 (Academics & Skills)
• Mid teens- Squire (personal servant to knight)– Care for armor, horse & weapons
• Age 21- eligible for knighthood– On battle field or in ceremony
Code of Chivalry
• Knight promised to live by strict code of behavior– Brave in battle– Skillful with weapons– Honest and generous– Loyal to lord– Never attack unarmed knight– Churched added spiritual responsibility to code
of chivalry (protect church & venerate priesthood)• Peace of God = forbade pillaging of church property• Protection to non combatant people
•What is a skill that you used to have a long time ago but now you don’t have it anymore?
Jousts & Tournaments
• Knights to use their skills during peacetime– Tournaments = pretend war• Joust – individual • Melee – group competition
• Satisfied desire for excitement and entertainment–What other people had entertainment
where showed off fighting skills?
The Manor
• Self contained faming community– Ruled by lords–Worked by peasants
• Trade, towns, and money decreased• Most people lived on large estates in
countryside– Self sufficient met all daily needs of
those who lived there• Imported salt, iron and tar
Every manor had:
• Priest• Skilled workers– Craftsman– Furniture maker– Shoe maker– Tool maker– Clothe maker
• Laborers:–Make their own
clothes– Grow their own
crops–Make their own
houses– Build their own
roads and bridges
Description of a Manor
1. Village in center (near stream or crossroads)2. Peasants live in clusters of huts3. Lord’s House (Castle or Wooden House)– Up on a hill or defensible area
4. Church and Priest’s House– Tall steeple (to direct eyes towards heaven)– Courthouse– Town meetings– Social gatherings– Streams, woodlands and fields for providing food
Farming the Fields• Early, two field system; later, three
field system– Increased productivity of land
Charlemagne’s ThroneTypical Medieval kitchen- notice the HUGE fireplace
Typical arrangement for eating in the Great Hall
People
• Class structure:– Clergy- spiritual needs– Nobility- protection and justice– Peasants- produce food– * Freemen = peasants with specialized skills
• Blacksmith• Miller• Carpenter• Did not have to work the lord’s land• Could leave and move elsewhere
Serf
• Had use of land from Lord– Could grow food and provide for his family
• Tied to the land – could not leave without permission of lord
• Had to work on lord’s portion of the land (demesne)– Plow, sow, and harvest– Gather hay & care for lord’s cattle– Build fences, clear woodlands, etc. (week work)– Most peasants never left the manor land
• Not further than 25 miles away from home
Daily Life
Poverty & Misery
Famines & Poor
Diet
Feudal Wars & Invasion
Strenuous Labor