New ways of life developed in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire

Middle AgesAD 500-1500

• Roman Empire overtaken by Barbarians

• Constant warfare disrupted trade &

people fled to countryside

• Led to a decline in city populations

• family ties bound people together• Rule over large territory became

impossible

• Feudalism evolved

The Church provided Stability during the Middle Ages

Won new followers—How? -sent out missionaries from Rome

-converted Frankish King Clovis

(AD 481-511)

-Monks (Benedict/St. Patrick)

established Monasteries in Western

Europe (est. schools & hospitals)

Achievements: -provided stability

-preserved Greece & Rome’s intellectual

heritage (Monks copied classical writings)

Feudalism became the basis for government in Middle Ages

500-1500 CEFeudalism -a military, political, & economic system based

on the holding of land

How did it work?

-feudalism depended on a contract between alord (land owning noble) and Vassal (person who receives land from lord)

-vassals received fiefs (land) from lords in

exchange for their loyalty & Service

Manors -landed estates that formed a basic self-sufficient

economic unit (mill, church, Ovens, & village)

-a good system during troubled times

End of

Feudalism-Agriculture Revolution (produced more food--

less labor needed)

-new weapons (long bow, crossbows, trebuchet,

and cannons); couldn’t hide in castles anymore

Where did most people live in the

M.A.?

-most people were serfs (peasants)

Charlemagne

-King of the Franks (AD 742-814)

-crowned “Emperor of the Romans” in 800 by the Pope

-he emphasized education

-Because combined the following 3 things:

-he protected & spread the Catholic faith throughout Europe

Why was he important?

Video

Why?

-some call him the “The Father of Europe?”

-No more empires after his death—feudal kingdoms emerged

German + Roman heritage + Christianity

Review Questions

1. Feudalism is based on the control of what?

2. A person who is given a piece of land for service is called a ___________.

3. A piece of land granted to person for service.

4. How many social levels make up the Feudal Pyramid?

5. What was the title given to Charlemagne by Pope Leo III?

6. What was the strongest unifying force in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?

7. How did the church gain more followers (2 ways)?

8. How many seats are up for grabs in Iraq's new Parliament?

9. What is the federal minimum wage?

10.What gang did Tookie Williams help organize?

The Growth of European Nations

William unifies England

-William II of Normandy defeated King Harold II at the

Battle of Hastings in 1066

-William the Conqueror was a harsh but an efficient ruler

King John I signs the Magna Carta in 1215

-he needed money to fight wars against France

-Barons agreed to help; however, at a cost!

-King John had to sign the Magna Carta

-One of the most famous battles in English history.

The Magna Carta-limited the king’s power

-King couldn’t tax nobles w/o their permission

-“free men” arrested had the right to due process of the law

-it created a limited monarchy in England

King Edward I established a Parliament in 1295

-he needed $ from the middle class (commoners)

-he summoned commoners (knights & burgesses)

-Parliament now made up of House of Lords (Lords) & House of Commons (commoners)

-England’s Parliament became a model for the U.S. Congress

The Byzantine Empire: The

Eastern Roman Empire

From West to East

• The reign of

Constantine, marks

the beginning The

Byzantine Empire.

• Remember this is the

eastern Roman

Empire.

• The capital was

Constantinople-the

“New Rome”

Sounds like Greek to Me!

• The Byzantine Empire began to look less like the Roman Empire as the years passed.

• The empire covered Greece, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.

• By the seventh century, Greek had replaced Latinas the language.

Justinian

• Most famous Byzantine ruler from 527-565 B.C.

• Wanted to bring back the glory that was Rome.

• Spent lots of $$$$$trying.

Behind Every Great Man is a

Great Woman• His wife Empress

Theodora was his right hand lady!

• She was sassy, smart, & outspoken!

• She was able to shut her husband’s enemies up!

• She also helped with a major earthquake in the relief effort.

Women’s Power• Many men & women

of the day attacked her

role and thought that she had no business in politics!

• When she died Justinian was never the same—he died 17years later.

Justinian's Accomplishments

� Corpus Juris Civilis

BODY OF CIVIL LAW-used to unite his people.

-formed the basis for the judicial systems of the Western world.

� he controlled the Orthodox Church

� Built the Hagia Sophia-a huge church that was converted a Muslimmosque

Hagia Sophia=Blue Mosque

Cha, Cha, Changes…

The Church

• Byzantine emperorcontrolled the Church —this made

the pope in Romepretty mad!

• Byzantine priests were allowed to marry but Catholic priests were not. Plus they spoke Greek & not Latin.

Orthodox vs. Catholic—the early years

• Orthodox

�Priests can marry

�Emperor ruled

�Don’t follow the pope

�Constantinople is the most important city

�Easter is the most important holiday

• Catholic

�Priests can’t marry

�Pope is in charge

�Rome is the most important city

�Christmas is the most important holiday

In 1054 A.D.

• The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern

Orthodox Church split.

• The 2 became enemies

Orthodox Priests

Catholic Priests

The Crusades “Holy Wars”

• The Muslim Turks were trying to overrun the Byzantines—they also controlled the holy land.

• They asked Western Europe for help. Together East and West fought in the name of Jesus. Why did people fight you ask…

So, why did they go??????

1. Religious Reasons

2. Land

3. Money

4. Trading partners

5. For adventure

All out war!!!

• The Crusades lasted for 200 years (1095-1270)

• Christians, Muslims, (& Jews) killed each other in the name of religion—they didn’t want to share the Holy Land. Neither side really won but the Christians and the Muslims hated each other more and more…can you see any connections to the present??

The Byzantine Legacy

1. Religious Art (especially icons)

2. Mosaics

3. Architecture-palaces,

churches, etc.

4. History

• 1st female historian-Anna Comnena

Basically…

• The Byzantines kept Greek culture alive

while blending a East and West along the

way. They also protected Western Europe

from invasion.

• It ended in the 1400s when the Ottoman

Empire began.