• The High Middle Ages (1000 A.D.-1300 A.D.)

• The Late Middle Ages (1300 A.D.-1500 A.D.)

The Middle Ages

February 13, 2012

Review- Dark Ages- 500A.D.-1000A.D.

Invasions by many groups(referred to as “barbarians”), most notably were the Goths, Vandals, Franks, Turks and later the Vikings.

Destroyed much of Roman architecture and did not up keep many technological innovations, i.e.: aqueducts, sewage systems

Review- Dark Ages- 500A.D.-1000A.D.

After the break down of the the established Roman governmental system (With the emperor) the church began to play a much larger role in politics.

The church was a common thread among Romans

Landowners were often chosen as church officials

Review-Dark Ages- 500A.D.-1000A.D Justinian was a second generation emperor whose

goal was to reunite the two divided halves of the Roman Empire, run from Constantinople and Rome.

He fell out of popularity largely for his sneaky underhanded tactics used to secure funds for his campaigns (i.e. signing over wills of the dead illegally)

At the chariot games, the people of the Roman Empire decided to conspire against him and in spite of his initial decision to flee, his wife convinced him to stay with his men and engage in a battle which claimed the lives of 30,000 citizens

Review-Dark Ages- 500A.D.-1000A.D

Bubonic Plague- 542 A.D. - Also known as the Plague of Justinian

as it was seen as Nature’s revenge for Justinian’s slaughter of the people

Claimed the lives of nearly 1/3 of the population of Europe

• The High Middle Ages (1000 A.D.-1300 A.D.)

• The Late Middle Ages (1300 A.D.-1500 A.D.)

The Middle Ages

**New Material**

Although there is a time division between the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages, the events are similar in nature and will be covered together due to time constraints.

I will make distinctions in the dates if it is necessary to better understand the material.

The Middle Ages-1000 A.D.1500A.D.

One of the most important structures to understand is the Feudal System that took root during the Middle Ages, after the collapse of the previously established Roman government.

Key terms (definitions taken from Oxford English Dictionary[OED]): Fief: An estate of land, esp. one held on condition of feudal

service Vassal: In the feudal system, one holding lands from a

superior on conditions of homage and allegiance Serf: In the 17–18th c. used (after French example) with

reference to the contemporary condition of the lower class of cultivators of the soil in various countries of Europe.

The Feudal System

• In most of medieval Europe, society was dependent on the "feudal" system, which was based on allocation of land in return for service.

• The king would give out grants of land to his most important noblemen (barons and bishops), and each noble would have to promise to loyally follow him and supply him with soldiers in time of war.

• In the lowest spot in society sat the peasants who worked on the land itself. They had almost no rights, tiny pieces of property - and no vassals.

• Does anyone know who else followed this system?

The Feudal System-Medieval Life

The Middle Ages- Guilds Guild: Definition

(OED): A confraternity, brotherhood, or association formed for the mutual aid and protection of its members, or for the prosecution of some common purpose.

A guild would make sure that anything made by a guild member was up to standard and was sold for a fair price. Membership of a guild was an honour as it was a sign that you were a skilled worker who had some respect in society. Only members of a guild could sell within a town.

The Middle Ages- Guilds Some members of a guild were chosen to check

that other members of the guild were working up to standard. Those guild members who were found to be cheating the public would be fined or made to do work again but at their own cost.

A guild would look after you - as a member of it - if you were sick. It would help the families of dead guild members.

Apprentices What does this resemble today?

The Middle Ages-Crusades 1096 A.D.-1291 A.D.

A series of Holy wars fought by the Christian States of Europe against the Saracens, the term used to refer to the Muslim people at the time of the battles.

It was the preaching of Pope Clermont that lead to the affixing of thousands of crosses to the battle garments.

The purpose of the crusades was to rescue the holy places of Palestine.

The Middle Ages-Crusades 1096 A.D.-1291 A.D. The cause of the crusades was because of a violent

disruption in the treatment of Christians. Although the city of Jerusalem was held by the Saracens the Christian pilgrims had been granted safe passage to visit the Holy city. In 1065 Jerusalem was taken by the Turks, who came from the kingdom of ancient Persia. 3000 Christians were massacred and the remaining Christians were treated so badly that throughout Christendom people were stirred to fight in crusades

In total there there were 9, the first 4 being more major than the latter 4 and one additional titled the Children’s crusade.

The Middle Ages- Knights It was the duty of a Middle Ages Knight to

learn how to fight and so serve their liege Lord according to the Code of Chivalry. The Code of Chivalry dictated that a Knight should be brave and fearless in battle but would also exhibit cultured Knightly qualities showing themselves to be devout, loyal, courteous and generous.

Fighting on piggyback introduced the young knights to the balance and skills required in mounted combat.

Knights met each other at combined speeds of 95 km when jousting.

The Middle Ages-Knights Steps to Becoming a Knight: Step 1: The Right Connections-Knights would generally come from a

noble, or wealthy, family - a would-be knight had to have the right connections.

Step 2: Up Bringing-His future role as a Knight would be recognized at the birth of a son. His early upbringing would therefore be governed by this ambition. Up to the age of 7 years old a young boy would be brought up in the home of his parents. A boy's aspirations to becoming a knight would be fuelled by attending tournaments and hearing stories of brave knightly deeds and combats

Step 3: The Page- At the age of seven a young boy would be sent to commence his education at the home or castle of a noble. It was the duty of a Page to wait at table, care for the Lord's clothes and assist them in dressing. The page was also expected to acts as servants to the ladies of the court or castle her served in. The young page would receive an education being taught religion, manners, riding, hunting, hawking and strategic games such as backgammon and chess.

The Middle Ages-Knights Step 4: The Squire-The Medieval Squire was a servant to a

knight during the Middle Ages. The role to a squire was one of the most important steps to Knighthood and started when a page reached the age of fourteen years old. The duties of a Squire were to learn about Chivalry, the rules of Heraldry, horsemanship and practice the use of weapons and the skills required of a Knight. It was also their duty to enter into the social life of the castle and learn courtly etiquette, jousting, music and dancing. The Squire served in this role for seven years and became a Knight at the age of twenty-one. Sometimes knighthood was conferred on a squire at an earlier age as the reward for bravery on the battlefield. In time of war Squires accompanied Knights on the battlefield, leading and tending the horses and dressing them in the Medieval Knights Armor.

Step 5: The Knight-The culmination of the ceremony was when a knight was dubbed and the words "Arise, Sir Knight" were uttered. This final part of the ceremony would have been knighted by a local knight, or if they were very lucky, by a greater noble or even the king.

PresentationsYou have 5 minutes to get back in your groups and refresh your memories on your topics.

Complete short summaries of your sections for the rest of the class- Highlight any important partsWritten component - In paragraph form, write down two things that you learned and one thing that you wish you could have learned more about on the Medieval Times. Due at the end of class.

Once you finish your composition, please begin reading in your text books on the chapter on the Renaissance. (Pages 15-26)