Feudalism, Chivalry, and the Catholic Church

THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

1. Objective1. The student will be

demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by

1. Explaining the structure of feudal society and its economic, social, and political effects

Essential QuestionsHow did feudal society develop in Europe during the Middle Ages?

How did the medieval manor function as a social and economic system?

OBJECTIVES

Between 800 and 1000 invasions completely destroyed the Carolingian EmpireVikingsMagyarsMuslims

INVASIONS AFTER CHARLEMAGNE

From Scandinavia Germanic people

Also called NorsemenCharacteristics

Worshipped war-like gods Terrifying and violent Attacked using ingenious

long ships Traders, farmers, and

explorers Believed to have reached

North America 500 years before Columbus

End of the Viking terror Around 1000 C.E. the

Vikings gradually accepted Christianity

Warming trend made farming easier in Scandinavia

VIKINGS

VIKING LONGSHIPS

The MagyarsNomadic people from Central Asia

Invaded Western Europe around 800 C.E.

Characteristics Superb horseback riders Invaded land to capture

people to sell as slaves

The MuslimsCame from the South, from Mediterranean region

Attempted to invade in 600 and 700s

Characteristics Excellent sailors Attacked mainly along

settlements close to the sea Both the Atlantic and

Mediterranean

MAGYARS AND MUSLIMS

Invasions caused widespread panic and disorder

Most Western Europeans lived in constant danger

Central authority was powerless People turned to local rulers

with their own armies for protection

Seeking protection, people entered into feudal agreements establishing a social, economic, and political order in the Middle Ages. Landholding and protection

were critical elements in a feudal system.

CONSEQUENCES OF INVASIONS

Collapse of local authority created need for a new system of local governments

Feudal contract: Local ruler swore allegiance to monarchs in return for control over land and peasants

FEUDALISM

In the Middle Ages, Monarchs did not rule large kingdoms.

Monarchs lacked wealth to maintain own armies for defense or to pay sheriffs. Judges, or other officials to govern for them and collect taxes.

Instead, Monarchs relied on feudal alliances with their nobles to guarantee the protection and unity of their kingdom and the collection of taxes.

KINGS/ QUEENS

Fief: Plots of land given to

nobles for service and loyalty

Often divided Contained one or many

manors

Vassal: Nobles who accepted

fiefs Giver of land became

vassal’s “lord”

TERMS

Mounted warriorsOwed loyalty to lord In return given food, shelter, weapons

Supposed to follow code of chivalryRules by which knight should live

KNIGHTS

To fear God and maintain His ChurchTo serve the liege lord in valor and

faithTo protect the weak and defenseless

To give assistance to widows and orphans

To refrain from the meaningless giving of offence

To live by honor and for glory To despise financial reward

To fight for the welfare of all To obey those placed in authority

To guard the honor of fellow knights To avoid unfairness, meanness and

deceit To keep faith

At all times to speak the truth To persevere to the end in any

venture begun To respect the honor of women

Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

Never to turn the back upon a foe.

CODE OF CHIVALRY

Knights expected to display courage in battle and loyalty to their lord

By 1100s code of chivalry createdKnights had three masters Earthly lord Heavenly lord Chosen lady

TournamentsMock battlesCombined combat training with recreation

Reality of warfareCastle siege difficult

Defenders poured boiling water, hot oil, or molten lead on soldiers

Expert archers armed with crossbows that could pierce armor

CHIVALRY

Glorification of knighthood Epic poetry

Recounted a hero’s deeds and adventures

The Song of Roland one of the most famous Defeat of Muslims by the

Franks led by Roland

Love songs Troubadours were poet-

musicians who composed songs about the joys and sorrows of romantic love

Created entertainment at Castles

CHIVALRY

Farmed land and tended livestock

Worked hard Wealth of the lord came

from labor of the peasants

Lived in harsh conditions Not slaves

Bound to the land Lords could not buy or sell

Could not lawfully leave the place where they were born

SERFS (PEASANTS)

A Manor was a lord’s estate

Manor system was basic economic arrangement during the Middle Ages

Self-Contained Covered only a few square

miles Consisted of the lord’s manor

house, a church, and workshops 15-30 families lived in the village

on a manor Fields, pastures, and forests

surrounded the village Self-sufficient

Serfs/peasants raised or produced everything needed for daily life

Only outside purchases were salt, iron, and unusual objects.

Harsh life Peasants paid a high price for

protection Paid a tax on all grain ground in

the lord’s mill Paid a tax on marriage

Had to have lord’s consent first Owed the village priest a tithe

Church tax, 1/10th of income

Role of Women While knights placed

noblewomen on a pedestal to be worshipped, the reality was that most women were still poor and powerless Noblewomen could inherit and

estate from her husband and ran the manor while husband was away

MANOR LIFE

With government weak, the church emerged as a powerful institution

Scope of Church authority Two swords analogy

Pope wielded a spiritual sword Emperor wielded a political sword

Each should bow to the other over political and religious matters

Church Structure Distribution of power based on

status Different ranks of clergy

(religious officials) Pope

Bishops Priests

Unifying force Provided security during the

dangerous middle ages Middle Ages named the “Age of

Faith” Sacraments (important religious

ceremonies) part of everyday life Weekly church attendance

Church justice Created a system of justice

called cannon law (law of the church) Harshest punishments

Excommunication interdict

THE CHURCH

After the death of Charlemagne the strongest kingdom was the Holy Roman Empire

Led by Otto I Crowned King of medieval

Germany in 936 C.E. Charlemagne was his hero

Formed close alliance with the church

Invaded Italy on Pope’s behalf in 962 C.E. Pope crowned him Emperor

Empire covered modern-day Germany and parts of France and Italy

THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

The church began to resent the control Kings had over the clergy Especially lay investiture

A ceremony in which kings and nobles appointed church officials

The Pope banned the practice in 1075 C.E. Led to argument between

Pope and Emperor Henry IV

Pope excommunicated Henry Henry traveled to Canossa,

Italy to beg forgiveness

Concordat of Worms Compromise between the

church and the emperor that the church alone could grant a bishop power BUT the emperor could veto the appointment if he did not approve

CONCORDAT OF WORMS

1152 C.E. Frederick “Barbarossa” became Holy Roman Emperor

Did not focus on building royal power in Germany but on invading cities of Italy Angered Italian

merchants and the Pope Formed a league against

him called the Lombard league

1176 C.E. Battle of Legnano Foot soldiers faced off

against Frederick’s mounted knights First time in history foot

soldiers defeated mounted knights using crossbows.

FREDERICK I

1. Objective1. The student will be

demonstrate knowledge of Western Europe during the Middle Ages from about 500 to 1000 C.E. in terms of its impact on Western civilization by

1. Explaining the structure of feudal society and its economic, social, and political effects

Essential QuestionsHow did feudal society develop in Europe during the Middle Ages?

How did the medieval manor function as a social and economic system?

OBJECTIVES